Kessler - Ambivalent EP

Shall Not Fade

In the same sonic realm as a Skee Mask or Bicep, Kessler resides within the space between what is and what once was. A semi-nostalgic sound with one foot in reality and the other in dreamland.

The Ambivalent EP gets off to a euphoric start as 'Lambert Rise' quite literally rises from what seems to be a hypnagogic state. That early morning cuppa joe type feel is perfectly captured and reproduced by Kessler. 'Moonlight Branches' picks up the pace but never quite ventures into movable territory. It firmly subscribes more to head space rather than floor-filler.

Desolate vocals come into frame on the third track 'Old Wives Tale' and the euphoric nature of the material turns into skeletal societal frameworks. It goes to show that the slightest of change and addition can drastically reform the space in which the material exists within. The vocals bring the music closer to home. They're the difference between walking around 1000 year old ruins, the safety of time as distance, and traversing through the collapse of the society in modern reach. They serve as the startling reminder that chaos and disorder are always within touching distance. Dilapidated surroundings and the scent of misspent youth. A very apropos atmosphere for metropolis' that once were.

Sub-atomic bass thrives from beneath the feet of the listener, shaking the foundations of the tracks to their core. Burial is another name that comes to mind that does this quite effectively. Urban soundscapes is a term that I have used before and I think it resonates well with Kessler's 'Ambivalent' EP. Late-night networks of modern city living thrive to this kind of soundtrack.

Kessler is most definitely one to keep an eye on.

Favourite Track: Moonlight Branches