Bola – Kroungrine

Bola continues his IDM takeover of your brain with KROUNGRINE, though with "Zoft Broiled Ed," there's a bit more funk. "Noop" is similarly more aggressive, but "Waknuts" brings things to an almost bucolic state, adding in a new texture of filtered vocals, and "Urenforpuren" continues the mood, while "Halyloola" stays on the upbeat, digital side of things. "Phulcra" has some suggestions of jazz in its synth line, but it's the delicacy of "Rainslaight" that really speaks volumes. But it's the slow approach and landing of "Diamortem" that carries the most impact, especially once it switches tacks a third of the way through, becoming ambient and atmospheric, with long, oceanic sweeps before re-introducing the rhythm. It's a slippery, shifting track, but one well worth the listen. And so it goes for the album itself.

Gotta say I accidentally listened to this at 45 the first time, and it also sounds great at that RPM, derp.

Excellent album. It's better than Gnayse, with more layered synths and beats and pads, and probably better songwriting too. My quarrel with this album is that it continues on the same basic high, low, high, low, higher, low, high, low chord progression as a whole bunch of his songs. (Evident mainly in 'Waknuts', one of this albums weaker tracks.) However, this formula has produced some amazing tracks, like Horizophon on Fyuti, and Effanajor on Gnayse, so It's not much of a niggle. The first two tracks are great, with a big hip-hop influence. Waknuts is pretty good on first listen but unlike most of the other tracks becomes boring on further listens. Halyloola and Urenforpuren are both pretty good, with the latter being the better. However, the last two tracks are where the album truly reaches its peak. These are probably some of the best tracks Bola has ever produced, (Although nothing can beat the sublime 'Whoblo') and it is probably his best since Soup, although Fyuti is pretty close as well.

Starts out very strong (first two tracks), then weakens substantially towards the middle. Tracks 3-6 are not my favourites. But then it improves again and the last two tracks are outstanding. The final track is a Bola-worthy closer.

Truly sublime. After the slight disappointment (slight, the quality of Bola's recordings has always been really high) of Gnayse to me, Kroungrine comes back as a really positive surprise. There's not a single dud track here. If you are unfamiliar with Bola, think BoC but slightly more abstract, and this would be as good as any of a place to start your addiction. Anyway, the tracks are truly beautiful and there are enough twists and layers to keep one occupied for years.

Rainslaight is worth the price of admission alone. One of the best tracks he's ever done. The album is most similar in vein to Gnayse, but better overall.