LANDSCAPES & HEARTBREAKS LP

A: 1. Western Digital 2. The Ceremony 3. Hypnagogia (w/ Berllioz) 4. Black Palm B: 1. Redemption 2. Sacred Ritual 3. Helios 4. Fado Vadio 5. Orizaba 6. Lost In You After a slew of acclaimed 12" EPs and a string of CD compilations and albums, Darkroom Dubs prepare to cut their first LP to wax, which comes from Portuguese newcomer Pedro Aguiar. Brimful of spectral intensity, Aguiar™s ˜Landscapes and Heartbreaks™ is an uninhibited package of field recordings and otherworldly tones that stay close to the aesthetic Darkroom Dubs fans hold dear and also inaugurate the label™s landmark step into the world of Long Play records. Just as the title suggests, the LP sonically explores the topography of an often- mournful setting and kicks off with the deeply cinematic ˜Western Digital™ before the cold, mechanical character of ˜The Ceremony™ layers bit-crushed textures with metallic, atonal drones. Hypnagogia then sets a rich and busy groove stuttering inside a cloudy cavern before ˜Black Palm™ spreads rich, undulating sweeps over sheets of liquid and delayed percussive knocks that are gently propelled by a low- passed thud. The lucent, minor key tones of ˜Redemption™ are then spread out before the ticking percussion of ˜Sacred Ritual™ patiently ferries the listener toward solace. ˜Helios™ then recalls the work of Keith Kenniff as rubbery, synthetic pops are contrasted against a soft melodic sheet before ˜Fadio Vadio™ rolls out a steady, chugging drum pattern and coarse, granular sweeps. ˜Orizaba™ and ˜Lost In You™ then inject some swooning synth tones, which work to round off a cohesive anthology of emotions that mark the first step for an extremely auspicious talent. Played & supported by: Raresh, John Digweed, Seth Troxler, Magda, Richie Hawtin, Nick Warren, Danny Tenaglia, Dubfire, Guy J, Joris Voorn, Hernan Cattaneo, Horse Meat Disco, DJ TLR, Denite, Moodymanc, Ethyl, Mr. G, Chris Coco, John Heckle, Dubspeeka, Alan Fitzpatrick, Agoria, Johanna Knutsson, Iron Curtis... Selected Feedback: URB.com/ NYC - šIt's an invigorating dubby delight; like going through a mountainside with no clear sightline. It's unpredictable and I like that it leaves me room to find my own path in its listening cycle.› 5/5 Mixmag (Germany) - šGreat album! Black Palm is a fav!› Horse Meat Disco  šAmazing!› Nick Warren  šMore brilliance from Pedro!› Raresh  šExquisite sound journeys... thanks!› DJ TLR (Cre`me Organisation)  šPromises to be the tensest flatbread meditation session I'll visit this month. Let the juices flow and the paint some pretty pictures with sound. 5 stars for Redemption!› Seth Troxler  šExtra special  thanks!› Danny Tenaglia  šAll sound great, thanks for this album!!!!› Beat Selector (USA) - Assigned for review Beatselector Issue N°2 Summer 2015 Vicious Magazine  šExcellent! Thanks› 5/5 The Ransom Note  Track by track feature Sub FM (UK) - šVery nice piece of work! Feeling ˜The Ceremony™. Great vibes. Amazing deep release! Support.› Ibiza Global Radio  šSimply sublime!!› Ethyl  šPots of stuff on here that is up my street. Going to enjoy sinking into this one. Thanks.› Chris Coco  ššExperimental and atmospheric. Nice!!!