Warp Records has one of the deepest rosters of any label. Once you get past the IDM deities like Autechre and Boards of Canada and newer household names like Flying Lotus, Hudson Mohawke, and Battles, there's still plenty to explore. One of these hidden gems is Darkstar, a UK duo with a unique brand of gloomy electronic pop. While their sound is more humble and reticent than that of some of their rowdier label mates, 2013's News From Nowhere was a memorable record from a refreshing new voice. They recently announced the follow up, Foam Island, and the album's first single, "Pin Secure" is available to stream below.
Listen closely, and you'll hear all kinds of sounds bouncing off the walls of "Pin Secure." The staccato synth interjections that open the track feel like a glimpse of Cashmere Cat's somber side, while the song as a whole conjures comparisons to a greyscale Vampire Weekend or Discovery. Foam Island should be a perfect soundtrack to the summer-fall transition; it drops September 25th.
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Darkstar
"Pin Secure"
- Warp Records
- 'Foam Island' out 9/25