This year, Cubicolor's Dutch producers Ariaan Olieroock and Peter Kriek have recruited British vocalist Tim Digby Bell to their roster, creating a beautiful, haunting sound.
Their first project as a trio, 'Brainsugar' is characterised by hybridity and adaptability, containing 12 impactful records that showcase their outstanding production capabilities. The addition of a vocalist has allowed Ollieroock and Kriek to push their production into new-found realms. Less time has been spent creating a certain type of electronic record, instead they are able to seamlessly glide through genre, with Digby Bell filling the gaps with his rich vocals.
The deep yet uplifting tones of the title track are not too distant from the stirring collaborations of Four Tet and Burial. The evocative vocals of Digby Bell are also reminiscent of Thom Yorke’s contribution to the 2011 'Ego/Mirror' collaboration between the three. It would be wrong to suggest that the Cubicolor aimed to imitate the sounds of others, yet there are clear Radiohead influences, alongside other moody, electronic taste-makers.
'Brainsugar' features eight vocal tracks and four instrumentals, striking a winning balance. Digby Bell knows when to step back, the emotive piano on 'Machine Keys' needs no more to stir you as a listener. Equally he knows when to give, his vocals on the progressive 'Falling' add a dark dimension to the track, pushing it further than the instrumental could do alone. This record is one of the most exciting things to come out from the Anjunadeep imprint in a long time, which is saying something for such an impactful label. Everything seems to be in place for Cubicolor and with a live show in the making, these three are not to be slept on.
8/10
Words: Angus McKeon
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