XIU

Partly known and recognised for a handful of live sets played with the Italian synth-pop band Newclear Waves, Oksana Rodionova (Xiu) is back with an intense groovescaping moody synth release published in limited edition on the underground aufnahme + wiedergabe. The musical identity clearly surrounds the compositional schemas substantially developped in the 80s cold minimal wave acts (Linear Movement, Autumn...) Side B provides a bunch of original elements, much more personal than the first side with some exquisite doom-like hypnotish cinematic synthscaping tracks (notably the breathraking "Why we are gone"). A very convinging effort with a couple of mesmerizing dreamlike sensuous pop tendencies, charmingly fragile vocal parts in a darkly atmospheric sensitive mood. A rare sense of goth-melancholy in the aesthetic trajectory. To sum up things, this K7 clearly deserves a listening for nostalgics of the 80s synth-electro pop era but also for listeners of elaborated, glacial and subtly emotional electronic music.