This week’s fantastic review is brought to you by Fernando Briceno!
If any release could turn my brain into gold, this would be it. Through tiny hardware and external devices, Kraus has generated a digital soundscape that conjures distant videogame memories of warm and wondrous alien environments. “A Golden Brain” is the titular track from Kraus’ latest release, a peculiarly exciting collection of tracks comprising a fleshed out sound, drawing inspiration from “medieval music, renaissance music, traditional Japanese music, psychedelic music and electronic music.”
Droplets of sound bounce around the stereo field in syncopation, digital bells with an echoed synth melody expressing the atmosphere whilst glitched collapsing wails become streams of conscience and bit crushed fluid flows expand and distort periodically. Focus is drawn to different sounds as the track progresses, melodies and impulses dancing around each other as the bells continue. A digital voice comes through to clear the air then fading, ending the track as it began with a bell and synth loop.
I experienced this track at the Kraus ‘A Golden Brain’ tape release show, at Audio Foundation. Located off K Road, next to Myers Park and below the Parisian tie factory, Audio Foundation is an art gallery and performance space, the main room featuring blacked out windows and a large paper mache all seeing eye in the top left corner. The space complimented the music, as did the sound system; the stereo spread was over the whole room and the sound was experienced by my body and ears. I cannot recommend this track and in particular this release enough – listen to it anywhere and everywhere, let your ears experience this wiggly air for yourself, think about it or don’t, this album has pleasantly surprised and excited me to dive deeper into electronic music and Kraus’ discography.