- A softer, more celestial side of UK techno.
- Tom VR & Louf's new EP, Harmonix, is the latest sign that we're in the midst of a golden era for progressive, leftfield UK techno. An uplifting alternative to the typically dark, blistering sound has erupted recently, as represented by artists like Otik, Cameo Blush, Kelbin and CloudCore. Taking it in a more ambient direction, Leeds duo Tom VR & Louf produce richly textured electronics rooted in nostalgia.
Drum kicks are rationed out on the title track, making room for a shapeshifting arpeggio synth. As it moves around, the synth becomes acidic and gauzy, flickering with sparks over a low, buzzing drone and a sonar-like vocal loop. Once the tension is set, the breakdown merely floats away. Intimacy is more important than vigour here.
So much of the EP has a rustic texture to it, from the garage woodblock shuffle and glass-bottle percussion on "Corina" to the leaping synth melody on the opener that disappears before you hear it resolve. The riled-up lead synth on "Corina" sounds far away, yet it still has a warming effect, like standing in the middle of a rainforest and taking in the biophony.
"Southpaw," the sole beatless moment, brings the most emotional heft. Its weightless synth line feels loaded with trepidation and adrenaline, seemingly tapping into a forgotten memory of a past adventure. Having no drums might ordinarily make a track like "Southpaw" overlooked, but instead, it's a standout with subtle shrewdness of a Boards of Canada interlude. In this new school of producers that use ethereal UK bass as a tool for disarming clubgoers, Tom VR & Louf strip it all back and show you the glowing core.