Populous (with Short Stories) - Drawn in Basic

Artist: Populous (with Short Stories)
Album: Drawn in Basic
Label: Morr Music

With so much old cosmic disco being reissued in the last couple of years, it is easy to forget that Italy does have an active scene of musicians making some great music (you know, now). Though Populous (Andrea Mangia) does resonate with the electronic vibe inherited from Italy’s disco past, it is his ability to fold shoegaze hums and delicate vocals into the buzzing foam that makes this album worth a listen.
It is difficult to draw comparisons with other artists; even though the blending of pop song structures with layered, atmospheric electronic noise is similar to artists like Frou Frou and Zero 7, he does not have the elfin female vocals, intense hooks, and formulae that makes those bands so palatable to the commercial ear. These songs are shaken a little loose, allowed to buzz a little longer, and roughened enough to make the sounds more than just soundtrack fodder.

Populous – “Days”

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This may be just a short instrumental track, but it has an attraction and warmth that makes it immediately awesome. I return often to the forty-five-second mark of the track at the moment when the pulsing sounds flow into that vibrating, deep wave. Quite nice—though too short.

Populous – “Only Hope”

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This is a good example of the rest of the album: simple beeps and chimes hop under buzzing synth, guitars, and vocals that at times blend into one another.

Check out the label’s site, look through the band’s myspace page, and buy the album!

Technorati Tags: Frou Frou, Zero 7, Populous

Filed under electronic, new album |