- The last we heard from Hunter P. Thompson, AKA Portland's Akasha System, was his Vague Response cassette, which came out almost a year ago on 100% Silk. The tape wasn't the first time he'd produced this hazy yet clubby sound (he's previously released ambient and new age as Opaline), but it was the first to attract wider attention. That might explain why his latest EP, Colour Theory, has emerged on Needwant, which has worked with the likes of Kim Ann Foxman, Robert Owens and Mark E.
Where Vague Response featured tracks with various tempos, Colour Theory is made up entirely of dance floor house. Every track is between 120 and 125 BPM, which gives his trademark dreaminess a nervous energy, even though it feels uniform. But while the beat keeps things moving, his astral synths—usually reverb-soaked and either arpeggiated into melodic riffs or drifting like drone clouds—make you float. This is especially true of the opener, "Speculum." Elsewhere, subtle touches, like the syncopated claps of "Shade" and the percussion ripples of "Imager," are head-turning details. Akasha System's best quality is his music's consistent vibe and transportive energy. His tracks have a beatific, calming and sensual atmosphere with a light touch and a deep groove.
Tracklist01. Speculum
02. Reflector
03. Tertiary
04. Shade
05. Imager