Review: Eelco Topper's latest release as FELBM is a conceptual affair, with the Dutch producer delivering a 38-minute piece (here split into two parts for vinyl, each of which finishes with a locked groove to give the impression of the track creating an infinite musical loop) that mixes and matches tape loops, cyclical samples, repeating melodic motifs and pastoral-sounding snatches of flute, bansuri, bass trumpet, saxophone and pedal steel. While the concept, inspired by the artist's thoughts about 'the cyclical nature of the world around him" is important, of more significance is the utter brilliance of the piece itself - a genuinely gorgeous, warming, atmospheric and ambient-leaning concoction tailor-made for imagined afternoons in the countryside and woodland walks at dawn.
Review: Now this is exactly the sort of record we want to be hearing this summer. It's full of warmth, joy and soul from the New Zealand collective Flamingo Pier, who have already put out some well received 12"s on the Soundway Records label. As far as debuts go, it as good as they get with its majestic mix of big horns, deep house groves and euphoric disco vibes all finished with some super smooth vocals and the odd cheeky sax. Written in South Aukland during 2020 and capturing plenty of that spot's sun, the record brims with life affirming chords, bendy baselines and influences as broad and diverse as Roisin Murphy, Peven Everett and Tim Maia.
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