N.O.R.K – YELL OUT (LADY CITIZEN REMIX)

What is N.O.R.K? Well, they're a R&B-inspired duo from Tokyo who seem to be set on success – or least that's the idea that you get from the preview of their upcoming album ADSR; stunning harmonies from the pair, Nariaki Obukuro and Ray Kunimoto, sing out over huge soundscapey instrumentals. Only formed in 2013, their sound is already massively polished and I'm sure set for big things.

There's also a few of remixes on the album (more a mini-album cause there are only 4 originals), including one from Licaxxx (aka Rika Hirota, whom you may have seen in the video for Spazzkid's '40 Winks') and one from DJ & producer Lady Citizen – as you can tell from the title of this little post right here, he's remixed 'Yell Out' and it sounds a little something like the embedded thingy below. In addition to this, I believe that it, perhaps because of simplicity, improves upon the original.

What you'll notice straight away here is the huge attention paid to the bass here, pulsating like the mechanical heartbeat of some huge machine, becoming the sludgy yet smooth foundational beat to the track. Airy, intergalactic drones provide wall-of-sound appeal as glittering synths make their appearance above, in golden echoes of sunlight sweeping across the crests of gently lapping waves. The beat is joined by gentle percussion towards the end, popping tom sounds and tambourine rattlings that move in tandem with the great bulges of sub-bass.

The vocals become unearthly here, soaked with reverb – as is the rest of the track – for spacey appeal, a lonely sound that puts voice into a void. The futuristic simplicity of this track's reliance on bass, and not much more (and what there is used only for ornamental purposes), is kind of fascinating, hypnotising in a way – an all-encompassing take on dance music.

• N.O.R.K's ADSR is out 14th May on Japanese label Anay

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NOVO AMOR – FROM GOLD (NOKUIT REMIX) [FREE DOWNLOAD]

From an original song that rings with lilting plucked guitar and an epic-yet-cute feel as it mutates from a toy-like sound into one with force and drama, we have a remix. Yes, the original 'From Gold' by Novo Amor (real name Ali Lacey, from Cardiff, UK) is a folksy number, but this remix by newcomer Nokuit – a somewhat veiled producer from who-knows-where – is a much more electronic affair, turning an organic and earthy vibe into one of unearthly artificiality.

Utilising vocals from the original, the track moves along at a slow pace – it bristles with thickets of percussion, clattering and crashing, smacking and fizzing with an itchy determination, skiffling with glitch sensibility. This essentially broken beat pulses with syncopated kicks, nicely understated below the creeping flora of noises. Golden thread glistening of noise are just audible in the background; guitar sounds echoing seemingly within their own selves twang delectably as richer synth sound rumbles up from the deep.

Nothing is overstated here in this chilled soundscape. For me, the main feature is the beat. The beat the beat the beat, prickling your ears in a wholly satisfying way. But um this is basically a very good example of ambient music as much as it is a complete indulgence in the powers of glitch. It keeps to itself, glows with delicate energy, seeps slowly into your skin like sunlight, all the time swaying and slow, yet is harsh and busy and irregularly ticking. A great mix.

I am told by Nokuit that this remix (also a FREE DOWNLOAD!) – the only track uploaded so far – marks the start of their project, their foray into the music world, and I personally happen to think that this is a very good start indeed.

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