Houndstooth
Composer and artist Sophia Loizou releases her intense third album on UK institution, Houndstooth. Moving on from her releases on Astro:Dynamics, Kathexis and Cosmo Rhythmatic, her new work, Untold, positions itself at the intersection of electronic music and ecological issues. Loizou encourages us to reflect on our interaction with the natural and animal world around us by creating abstract electronic productions based on the sound waves of, for example, lion roars, waves and insects. Layers of grainy reverb, bass, FX and vocal disintegrations create a fragmented soundscape that fits in perfectly with her broken beat aesthetic. Encapsulating her experiences of open-air raves where powerful electronic music co-existed with the natural surroundings, Untold has a tough, dark edge, with snapping drum machines, complex rhythms, rumbling bass and intense breaks. There are also moments of ambience, where lush pads create a meditative palette. An ambitious project executed with razor sharp intuition and reflexes, this is Sophia Loizou at her best.