Words by Mauro Ferreiro
This magnificent record came out in September so we’ve let it breathe for a while to absorb the flavours that this London-based outfit of international musicians have served up. On the eve of a Kinkajous UK tour (dates at the bottom) our man in Dominican Republic Mauro Ferreiro gives us his thoughts…
“An exhilarating dive into a lucid dream that never wants to end.”
British music seems to be constantly stepping up the bar for post-concrete, utopian realms of contemporary music. Recent works coming out of London, Nottingham (where Running Circle operate out of) and other metropolitan areas are always fresh, innovative and enticing, wielding exuberant craftsmanship skills and creating concrete concepts out of raw, honest intention.
The new Kinkajous LP, “Being Waves”, is an ubiquitous iteration of this incredible creative potential; textural electronica, esoteric languages, and stone-cold grooves, the quintet’s sophomore album is an exhilarating dive into a lucid dream that never wants to end. Striking an alluring balance between sound and silence, Kinkajous finds the space to blend neoclassical, techno, and jazz aesthetics into magnificent passages of ravishing cinematic action. Grandiose string sections and crunchy beats blend in unison with clarinets, ambient electronica, and nostalgic harmonies, forming frictionless fractals from iridescent sound palettes. The plethora of sonorities on this record is fantastic, blending breathtaking crescendos with a gorgeous ambiance which is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
The focus on creating a space, a unique environment where we can get to understand the many facets of the group’s sound, allows the record to develop its ideas as it pleases, leaving the listener no choice but to follow on. “Being Waves” is far from minimalistic, yet it is simple in its approach, establishing rapport with its own mirror image, retelling the tales of many feelings that have now crystallized as memory. A lot of the genius in it lies in how it repeats the same motifs and harmonies but always finds a way to expand on its monolithic odyssey. Indeed one of the best new records I’ve heard on vinyl in a while, a fresh take on the complex world of electroacoustic exploration, and a creative masterclass on concept and execution.
Get into it, listen, breathe, and explore, I’m sure you’ll find a lot of purpose in it. 9.3/10
