Death Square by Gallops
Gallops unveil ‘Death Square’, the second in a series of single releases showcasing the instrumental trio's assimilation of technology as a de facto fourth band member.
'Death Square' feels more intimate than 'Boolean Who?' - its massive, high energy predecessor. Here shimmering synths are gradually overlaid with intricate rhythmic elements and arpeggiating figures before a whip-cracking gear-shift takes 'Death Square' on the road for a spacewave drive powered by a precision engine and expert dynamic swerves into acidic territory. Despite such mechanistic smarts, the seven-minute track cuts a lithe, organic groove – rich sustenance for a night when you'd rather not see the dawn.
"Death Square's parent series originated before lockdown," says Mark Huckridge, "back when memories remained fresh of innovative audio-visual performances centring on work from 2017's much-praised Bronze Mystic album." Huckridge clarifies: “Lockdown shut me down creatively and it was only towards the end that the juices were flowing and I opened up these projects again. I found I was coming back at them from a different perspective, and possibly a darker one.”
That change of perspective included the relegation of the guitar as primary composition instrument in favour of studio experiments with modular synthesis and machine learning tools such as Magenta. 'Death Square' features human voices more prominently than in the past, with Gallops previously preferring to bury them deep or transmogrify vocals into rhythm.
This interplay between machines and musicians, technology and humanity, is a major thread weaving through Gallops' work, from using their home studio as an instrument to the organic ooze created by visual artist Sky Ainsbury in response to their work to how this relationship will further evolve in the live arena.
Tracklist
| 1. | Death Square | 7:22 |
| 2. | Death Square (worriedaboutsatan Remix) | 5:51 |
Credits
Written & Produced by Mark Huckridge
Mixed & Mastered by Sébastien Allemand
Remix by worriedaboutsatan
Artwork by Mark Huckridge
MEMORY PALACE 002 2022
