Sequence Of The Negative Space Changes

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Chicago's Kranky prove, yet again, that it's impossible to second guess their A&R approach and dangerous to even think about ignoring them. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Tomorrowland are a duo of Steve Barker and Nick Brackney. Their output so far has been sporadic: the 7"-only single "I Wish I Was and Angel So I Could Sleep on the Moon" (released on the Japanese label Motorway), the LP Stereoscopic Soundwaves on Darla Records' Bliss Out series and another single, "Futurist", released by Burnt Hair. So far, then, so very underground. A debut Kranky album should bring their delightful music to a wider audience, though what it will make of it is anyone's guess. Tomorrowland sit pretty squarely at the crossroads of electronica and psych rock, exhibiting all the correct influences: Krautrock, psychedelia, early Eno and so on. It's an area already widely explored, of course, but so what? Tomorrowland bring to it a kind of wide-eyed awe that's genuinely engaging. Recorded entirely on 8-track, Sequence... belies its technical limitations in its considerable depth, with huge swathes of blissed-out electric guitar and analogue synth drones constantly nudged out of their somnabulance by edgy, dissonant melodies and atmoses. The most obvious point of comparison, for those of you who need such things, might be Füxa, though Roy Montgomery's guitar-scapes also come to mind. Very lovely, very satisfying, very promising. More please.