This is Chris Clark’s tenth studio album released in May 2023, the electronic artist choosing to marry his signature volatile, pin-sharp production to the introduction of his own emotive vocals. Challenging himself to fantasise what a record might sound like “if the Beach Boys took MDMA and made a rave record” Clark looked to Thom Yorke to assist in an executive production role, an ideal companion considering Yorke’s most recent flights to the world of immersive electronica.

There’s also plenty of occasions where the compositions lean towards cinematic soundscapes particularly on the unnerving distortion of ‘Forest’. However unlike on his ‘Growl Garden’ EP where vocals were used in a more chilling and dystopian role, those on the likes of ‘Dolgoch Tape’ are far more reverential and tender, closer to the spellbound serenity found on a Sufjan Stevens LP. Vocals funnelled into textures rather than dominant leads.

Highlighting the album’s contrasts and bonds between human and machine The Guardian described it as “wandering free from structure, deploying sunbursts of synths and metallic percussion, nailing melodies into your primitive brain.”

1. Alyosha
2. Town Crank
3. Sus Dog
4. Clutch Pearlers
5. Over Empty Streets
6. Wedding
7. Forest
8. Dolgoch Tape
9. Bully
10. Dismissive
11. Medicine
12. Lader