Hold tight for some fresh incoming cosmic house music on Italian duo Crimea X's second album Another. Out on 28 March through Hell Yeah Recordings it embraces an experimental electronic sound but applies it to post-rock production techniques.
Whilst Crimea X never feel quite as tongue in cheek or upfront about it, the pop influence audible on Another echoes Hot Chip in an adult-orientated 80s sense. The album's opening tracks set much of the tone and pace. Essential layers a series of analogue synths together with flutes and gentle, reserved vocals whilst Floordance Track is more upbeat, complete with flamboyant drumming and lots of atmospheric space flecked with acid.
There's a balance at work between the tracks and moods Crimea X have created on Another. The pace changes but the album never deviates too far from a central point. There's also a consistent, Mediterranean sound throughout that conjures up visions of cooling white villas dotting the glistening shoreline, much as Panda Bear achieved with his Spanish sounding Person Pitch. Another may not be as risky or quite as rewarding as Panda Bear and his bandmates but it still feels like a dip into the pool on a scorching hot day.
On Another Crimea X are experimenting and pushing out at the edges of their sound - instruments wilfully thrown in up against analogue synthesisers, giving the duo an improvised, experimental sound. Under the watch of Norwegian producer Bjorne Torske, who spent 10 days in the studio with them before returning home to mix, the duo have managed to do this without sacrifing pacing or consistency, and that's a testament to the vision if nothing else.
Another is our now on Hell Yeah Recordings, available for pre-order from Amazon.co.uk on MP3. You can preview the album via the Soundcloud player below: