Pure electronic horror, courtesy of Shlomo

Shlohmo

"Dark Red"

Release date: 06 April 2015

7.5/10

31 March 2015, 09:30 | Written by Rory Foster

(Albums)

(Shlohmo)

Being a beatmaker in 2015 can be a bit rubbish. Despite the internet’s proficiency for sharing, when there’s thousands of other people cramming themselves into the same musical outlets as you are, it’s a fight to get noticed. What’s more, those that have already been elevated above the masses must feel a great deal of pressure to justify their computer’s supposedly superior output over and above all the other thousands. When Henry Laufer a.k.a Shlohmo first emerged on the scene it was via the MySpace route - one of the many hundreds of people hunched over a monitor late at night, making electronic music with ears for RnB and Hip-Hop. But tracks such as “Sippy Cup” seeped into headphones with moreish clicks and a juicy fuzzy bass, and a following started to build around this young producer. From that moment on it’s been an impressive journey to Dark Red, one that you’d probably not have expected.

More predictable was the steady rise of WEDIDIT; the collective Shlohmo co-founded that holds within its ranks electronic beatmakers including Ryan Hemsworth, Juj, Groundislava alongside others. It's a mutual understanding of the internet that pulls them together; videogame soundtracks and dank memes as much an influence as each other's productions. But Shlohmo’s first true LP, Bad Vibes, was an adventurous and somewhat surprising foray away from both his and their typical internet-flavoured output. Reminiscent of Mount Kimbie's debut LP Crooks and Lovers, it holds its own in contemporary electronic music as an instantly recognisable record. Produced with a mixture of digital and analogue - guitars, clicks and percussion alongside ethereal synths and samples, it has a wonderfully crisp, soothing sound. So it’s of some surprise, had you not heard any output aside from Bad Vibes, to be given his latest work. An album brimming with dread and desolation, Dark Red is pure electronic horror - in a good way.

From the start there’s a clear cinematic element to proceedings. “Ten Days of Falling” screams its melody over a buzz of terror. Dark Red's sole similarity to Bad Vibes is its mastery of mood, holding you for the whole album rather than the occasional track. It just so happens that this mood is completely different to the other – slick, chilled and soulful has been replaced by dark, sci-fi, semi-industrial electronica, with elements of Lorn, Eprom and Boards of Canada amongst the tracks. “Slow Descent” has definite IDM sensibilities. “Fading” messes with tempo to create a jarring complexity. “Remains” is a calmer moment on an intense album, but still sounds spooky as fuck with its high-pitched howls and distorted melodies. Album closer “Beams” is actually a peak of intensity, sporting the thickest bassline of the record, it’s an explosive ending rather than a fizzle. It’s all very good.

You could argue that Dark Red is a bit samey in places, but that's kind of the point. You could say Bad Vibes was samey too - it didn't harm the full product. The leap from Bad Vibes to Dark Red will no doubt alienate some fans, but those that have been listening through Laufer's full career will understand the need for the still young artist to move forward in a way that matters to him and that differentiates from just another beatmaker. There’s no doubt that in this sense, Dark Red is a great success.