Either a rich amorphous, placable mix of pleasure or a listless mess, Sunless ’97 and their languorous, stochastic brand of iridescence continues to, at least, draw attention.
Alluring at times, that floaty mixture of glittering synthesis pop and polygenesis influences always makes for an interesting proposition. Their recent JuJu monikered mix showed just how eclectic those influences could be; featuring as it did the diverse work of The Incredible String Band alongside the strange synth soundtracks of the Hindu composer, Charanjit Singh.
Closely aligned to their debut release, Making Waves, this double A-side single (released this time around on the label, Not Even) once again enters the “poly-pop” rainbow, waltzing through a magnetic smog of 80s candy floss and Ladytron throbbing electro bass lines. Body Weather bounces around the, almost suffocating, blanket of shining Japanese-esque romanticism and scuttling beats, as plaintive wooing cries of painful catatonic soul fire up. Cameroonian musician and former Gil Scott Heron contributor, Yebga Likoba adds a touch of flighty sax to proceedings; his wafting vibes drifting through the ether, hanging around to give a little exotic vibe.
Azul (Spanish for Blue) works along similar lines, but with an a tom tom beat riding over the jaunty dry-ice backing. The cooing, evaporating mantra of “I’m making a change” repeats until washed-up on the shapeless rasping synthesised echoes.
Produced by David Wrench, you can hear a redolent touch of the production he mastered on Caribou, as the Sunless ’97 trio put a sweeping chilled-dance swerve on their music.
18/06/2012
[Rating:3]
