- Two ambient maestros, Ana Roxanne and DJ Python, come together for a moody, downtempo gem.
- Ana Roxanne and Brian Piñeyro, AKA DJ Python, have long sat on opposite ends of the ambient music spectrum—the former is beloved for her captivating songwriting and looping vocals, while the latter rose to fame for his deep, contemplative take on dembow. On their first collaborative record, the duo crawl out of their respective nooks and meet each other in the middle, forging a fresh sound that draws equally from Piñeyro's club background and Roxanne's dream pop palette.
"Sword" shows how the two can challenge each other. Piñeyro's relaxed rhythms usually carry a wistful tone wrapped with the bassy heft of club music, but paired with Roxanne's soothing voice, they adopt an otherworldly shoegaze tint. Roxanne's usually distant voice is more piercing and upfront here, dodging Piñeyro's staccato synths, sound effects and strategically applied pitch-shifting. Equal parts surreal and soft, "Sword" is a compelling preview of what should be a beautiful record to come.