Astro by Holo
Last Year At Marienbad is proud to present the latest spellbinding work from producer Holo, ‘Astro’, a record that emulates never-ending ethereal, emotively pure, and endlessly danceable frequencies…
Berlin-based Holo makes dance music that speaks in carefree whispers, through a brilliantly constructed sound that leans as much on the hypnotically emotive as on the core fundamentals of composition. His music is multifaceted, a series of synchronized layers that chime along to the rhythms and yet are not bound to them, instead allowing for moments of pure instrumental magic to occur. Primarily embedded within the deeper side of house, Holo adds a distinctive touch to his records through the thoughtful application of a myriad of harmonic features that interweave with ease and intuition. This poly-laden approach allows for all manner of surprises to come forth in his music, all of which is wrapped up in concise yet free-flowing songs that channel through the mind and the body, embracing them no matter what context. There’s an anchor to his music, one which allows for the delicate soul found within to boundlessly explore and harmonise, to seek and nurture bonds with listeners.
‘Astro’ is the next phase of his musical journey, and as a contained experience, it gives over all that Holo has become celebrated for, alongside explorations of invigorating spaces in which his sound has grown. The title track is an airy, free-flowing affair, with its semi-stepping drum pattern providing the frame for the light chimes of the keys to set the soul going. The sax that calls in from afar only adds to the track’s balearic leanings, with its delicate feel one that is just oh so glorious. ‘Spirits’ ups the ante with its tempo change, its direction more towards a dancefloor in some faraway paradise. The drums weave within the bedrock, as cascading filtered synths and string arrangements create an emotive symphony up top, drawing the crowd in with the quietly brilliant grandeur of it all.
‘Sympatika’ kicks off the B-side in a similar fashion, with its extensive groove fuelling bated breath for the arrival of the synths. The pads light up the room, softly undulating in the breeze, as Holo shifts gears to a more stripped-back but equally emphatic approach to building melody and creating heavenly, emotive atmospheres. ‘Cycles’ wraps up the EP, which again shifts focus to a more cavernous, absorbing kind of sound. The drums are deeply sparse, allowing the harmonic sequences up top with plenty of breathing room in which to weave, interplay, and entice, and the results are suitably emphatic. A final blend of audio excellence that wraps up a one-of-a-kind record from a one-of-a-kind producer.
Tracklist
| 1. | Astro | 4:40 |
| 2. | Spirits | |
| 3. | Sympatika | |
| 4. | Cycles | |
Credits
Produced by Holo
Mastering and Lacquers by Beau Thomas @1080
Artwork: cm-dp
Distribution: !K7
License
All rights reserved.
Unified.
You come to a halt, with the concrete forest forming on the horizon. Home, as you once knew it, but this is an empty husk with all you know now.
Through the myths and people you’ve met across your adventure, you know this place is forever a hollow reminder of what could have been. Men fulfilled by greed and desire to conquer the world live in these ivory towers.