- Courtesy further explores "ambient trance," this time made for fashion runways.
- "The violence of the moodboard (if we would go so far) entails treating everything as a potential visual reference to be sourced… and amalgamated into a history-less yet hyper-specific 'mood,'" writes the fashion critic and curator Jeppe Ugelvig in his essay Adam Pendleton and the Issue of Originality in the Digital Age. Ugelvig discusses the appropriation—and copyright infringement—that occurs in fashion mood boards, which compile and de-contextualise images of other artists' work to illustrate the vibe for an upcoming collection. It was this essay that inspired the title for Courtesy's second EP, which features three tracks she produced for runway shows.
Just like her debut last year, Courtesy continues her exploration of what she calls "ambient trance," where, without percussion, she emphasises the moodier elements of trance in its mid-to-high ranges. "Violence Of The Moodboard" is the best example, its spiralling bassline propelling the track forward while melodic flourishes glitter and choral voices sweep over the top. You could easily imagine models gliding down the runway to it, but it also works as an intensive interlude to the club, the tension in the bassline firing listeners (and dancers) up. The same could be said for the EP's closer, "AW23," for different reasons. Its focus on the delicate, prancing elements of trance brings to mind the work of someone like Barker, but the minor tones and wide-open spaces add a touch of melancholy—an invitation for introspection.
While the title cut and "AW23" are both original, with "Hearts," Courtesy remakes L.S.G.'s self-titled trance classic. Her take is actually punchier than the original, with a focus on souped-up synth stabs. It might seem odd that Courtesy would choose to "cover" a well-known electronic music track, but in doing so she winks heavily at the EP's themes of appropriation and re-appropriation, just as she does with her "Kenzo World"-adorned, mood board-esque cover art. The music works the same way, taking a well-known genre–trance—and turning it inside out for the runway.
Tracklist01. Violence Of The Moodboard
02. Hearts
03. AW23