- The color blue informs this introspective take on rave nostalgia, as seen through the lens of ambient and downtempo music.
- Associated with tranquillity, peace, order and sadness, the color blue represents both the sky and the sea. Picasso went through a blue phase, while French artist Yves Klein famously patented an ultramarine shade of his own—International Klein Blue (IKB), a slab of which hangs for all to stare into at Tate Modern's free collection in London. Azure, the highly evocative debut album from Belgian artist SKY H1, focuses on a bright, vibrant shade, whose brilliant color runs through the feelings of the album: wonder, awe, calm, hope.
The album takes the downtempo rhythms and ambient passages of SKY H1's past work to new places. She employs soaring breakbeats, referencing raves of yore as well as the Access Virus synthesizer (a classic piece of hardware used by a broad range of electronic-adjacent crossover artists such as t.A.t.U, Nine Inch Nails and Jean-Michel Jarre). Drawing inspiration from drum & bass—and the feelings the music would awake in SKY H1 when she was much younger—there are layers and layers of personal meaning on this record, including its heartfelt dedication to her mother. From the sub-aquatic opening bars of "Labyrinth" to the euphoric jungle climax of "Elysian Heights," this record is a Venn diagram of light and dark with a perfect blue compromise at the intersection. It's as eyes-down as it is built for Room 2 at fabric.
Cascading arpeggios and electric organ wash over you like waves of static energy on tracks like "Bird Strike" and "Topaz"—the former brings to mind the serpentine synth work of Caterina Barbieri, while the latter has a dubby groove that makes it an easy standout. The tough Beat-era bass tones of Bowery Electric jump to mind on "Darklite," where meditative low-end is embellished with lush keys, androgynous vocal coos and idiosyncratic percussion that sounds like sherbet fizzing in a pot. Epic chords, chimes and bells create a feeling of cloudburst on "Blade," while a distant rave is tantalizingly on the horizon—and always out of reach—on the cavernous "Freefall." The cold pitter-patter of hi-hats is stimulating while the reverb-drenched vocals have a mythical feeling to them. If her last album Motion was a well of serenity, Azure is an ocean that beckons you to dive in.
Tracklist01. Labyrinth
02. Darklite
03. Topaz
04. Silk
05. Arctis
06. Blade
07. Elysian Heights
08. Freefall
09. Bird Strike