Release

- Parodia Flare JP

夏の黄昏を彩る七色のノスタルジアとサイケデリアToroi Y Moiを彷彿させるダウンテンポな“チル”トロニカ!ポスト・ダブステップ・レーベルの最右翼へと躍り出た〈Planet Mu〉よりインディ路線の新境地!!

90年代ではAphex Twin、Luke Vibert、Squarepusherなどと並びエレクトロニカで名を馳せ、現在ダブステップやジュークなど最先端のベース・ミュージックをシーンへ投下しつづけ波に乗るMike Paradinasことμ-Ziq主宰の老舗エレクトロニック・レーベル〈Planet Mu〉よりBear In HeavenやLittle Dragonのリミックスも手がけたレーベル押しのニュー・フェイスTropicsが待望のデビューです!プラミュー流チル・ウェイブをお見逃しなく!!

昨年リリースの話題盤Solar Bearsに続き、今年もVezelayやTropicsのリリースなどチル・ウェイヴで盛り上がるインディ・シーンへのアプローチもみせる〈Planet Mu〉より若干22歳のイギリス人マルチ奏者Chris Wardによるソロ・プロジェクトTropicsがデビュー・アルバムをリリース。まどろむような浮遊感ボーカルと仄かにアシッドづいた淡い音色のギ ター、シンセ、ピアノ、キーボード、管楽器、ドラムが若干甘さもある叙情的なメロディ・ラインに乗って黄昏のサイケデリアとノスタルジアを演出、そこへラ ウンジ・テイストも加わりムーディーな色気も漂うダウンテンポとも言える本作はUSインディのローファイから派生した”チル”とはひと味違う甘い叙情感、 憂鬱感、納涼感に包まれた注目の一枚です。渋谷〜新宿〜お台場を駆け抜ける東京を舞台にしたPVも要チェック!ボーナストラックにはレーベルの看板アーティストFalty DL、アテネの新星インディ・シンセ・デュオKeep Shelly In Athensのリミックスが収録!!

 【国内盤特典】

+ ボーナストラック2曲

+ Boxcutter Exclusive DJ Mix *DL Code

【初回限定特典】

+ V.A. – Planet Mu 2011 Promo Mix by Mike Paradinas

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Artist Info.

Tropics

イギリスのマルチ奏者Chris Ward (クリス・ワード)によるソロ・プロジェクト Tropics (トロピクス)。先行シングルとなった「Soft Vision」はPitchforkを中心としたインディ媒体で高い評価を受け、チルウェイヴやインディR&Bと共鳴するようなまどろむような浮遊感のあるファルセット・ボーカルと仄かにアシッドづいた淡い音色のシンセや楽器を用いたダウンテンポな作品で人気を獲得。〈Planet Mu〉のこれまでになかった新しい風=インディを吹き込んだシンセ・ポップ・アーティスト。

English Info.

Tropics is Chris Ward, a British producer and multi-instrumentalist in his early 20s who came to our attention last year. During the time we signed and released his first single ‘Soft Vision’, his early unreleased tracks and remixes were being given attention from the likes of Pitchfork and others, so we knew we were onto something special. Since that time things have moved on. He’s released two singles and the synth-pop of his early tracks has evolved into a more substantial and personal sound on this, his debut album. ‘Parodia Flare’ features Chris as a multi-instrumental auteur, playing drums, guitar, and a range of synths and electronic boxes, as well as singing on these songs. Coming from a family where music was always played, it made sense as a musician for Chris to act almost as a conduit by wiring the sounds he enjoyed growing up with into his own creations. The music he makes weaves vintage sounds, the Rhodes keyboard (an instrument associated with Jazz fusion sits central to the songs on this album), alongside banks of old synths, software and guitars, live drums and electric bass. Tropics is a suitable name for Chris’s music as each song is like a warm analogue jungle of sounds, drawn into focus by Chris’ naive singing voice and his knack for a lush melody. Given that the album was recorded in a walk-in wardrobe at his house, the steamy heat that the album gives off is a testament to his imagination. The opening short 'Navajo' sets the scene with atmospheric clouds of reverbed chords and electric guitar, quickly followed by recent single ‘Mouves’ with its gently sung verses disappearing into clouds of echoey Rhodes chords and floating synths with low-slung New Order-esque bass and soft drums keeping the track in shape. Next up ‘Parodia Flare’ majestically stretches shimmering keyboard tones and a light guitar over a tight bass and drums, gently teasing out the serene atmosphere. ‘Going Back’ features a keyboard refrain borrowed from a 70’s jazz fusion track, with a low bass and Chris snowy voice cutting through the middle of phased guitars. ‘Wear Out’ is the morning after, sounding like an exhausted take on late period Beatles, with a lolloping drum beat and horns that sound like they’re drunk, interrupted by shimmering marimbas while cold keys screech in the background. ‘Celebrate’, revised for the album, is a vortex of aerial dub, with echoes and reverbs layering and looping over a very minimal drum and sub-bass, the whole track moving in glorious slow motion. 'Figures', meanwhile, delicately projects Chris's whispered vocals onto a chord borrowed from late 80s Detroit techno, inside a chilly electronic atmosphere that gradually breaks into an 80’s electro funk bassline. ‘Telassar’ is a soft focus 80s synth epic, while 'Playgrounds' is more upbeat, with lyrics remembering the past. ‘After Visiting’ is made out of a strange airy atmosphere, full of tiny dropped-in details and smudged synths stretched over minimal drum pads borrowed from dubstep, while 'Sapphire' is based around a repeating piano refrain, guitar, sax and vocals. Final track 'On The Move' sounds like prime Chicago post rock but with the Mizell brothers on production, it’s musical mixture that tidily bookends the album.
CAT No.
MBIP-5503
Label
Release Date
2011/09/15
Format
国内盤CD
Price
¥1,886 + 税
Genre
Indie / Synthpop / Electronica
Tracklist
01. Navajo 
02. Mouves 
03. Parodia Flare 
04. Going Back 
05. Wear Out 
06. Celebrate
07. Figures 
08. Telassar 
09. Playgrounds 
10. After Visiting 
11. Sapphire 
12. On The Move
13. Mouves (Keep Shelly In Athens Remix) *
14. Mouves (FaltyDL Remix) *

*Bonus Track

Update: 13 Apr 2014

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