One of my favorite electronic music productions of all time is Autechre’s Tri Repetae++. Autechre’s sound has differed across albums and time, but the reason this record was particularly effective was its ability to let elements breathe. The record, which had productions typically clocking somewhere between 80 and 110 BPMs, somehow found a sweetspot between ambient electronic (i.e. Aphex Twin’s Ambient Works, Vol. II and output from Wolfgang Voight’s Gas moniker) and skittery drill n’ bass (i.e. Squarepusher and early Planet Mu recordings). Tracks built and crumbled organically, often taking up to 9 minutes to do so, and because of this the relative sonic elements were slowly and deliberately grounded into the listener’s ears.
This type of deliberate focus is apparent on Kangding Ray’s latest output, Or. The music of Kangding Ray (His real name David Letellier) follows a similar blueprint to Tri Repetae++ – BPMs clock in at around the same rate, and productions are well thought-out, with each sonic element as emotionally impactful as the next. A model of efficiency, Letellier balances just the right amount of clicks and beats with overarching synth sweeps. A really powerful record, and one of such grand scale that is in a league of its own.
Music Video for “Or” (Much in the vein of Vitalic’s “Birds” music video)
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