Crystal Vision [2LP]

Nathan Fake - Crystal Vision [2LP]

Double LP version. Originally released in 2023. Following a short, scene-setting "Arrival" -- a simple major chord arpeggio played on a Jupiter 6 which sounds like curtains opening at dawn, Nathan Fake's Crystal Vision begins apace with "The Grass," which hurtles like a precision-tuned bullet train through Arctic tundra. The undulating effect of compression is emphasized by the classic techno trope where two rhythms jar yet interlock, creating an exquisitely disorientating strobe-like flutter. Inspired by Italo disco but sounding wholly alien and futuristic, "Vimana"'s fizzing buzzsaw arpeggiated bassline, popping snares and bright whirling melody are equally an electro trance melange, with an effervescent major chord Arp that kicks in midway. With chugging slow breakbeats not a million miles from Board Of Canada or trip hop, "Crystal Vision" rolls along, with the melody opening up, revealing more hidden notes as it progresses, building into a fractal, kaleidoscopic mosaic. An emotional outpouring with serotonin surging through the circuitry, classic breakbeats and layers of lazers, "Bibled" has all the hallmarks of a classic. A minimalistic moment of calm midway through the album, "CMD"'s gently comforting dreamscape is conjured with FM stacked and detuned sine waves which are left to breathe, whilst the chunky Chicagoan house jack of "Hawk" brings to mind classic Relief records, but even more detuned and wibbly, and laden with synths. A collaboration with Nathan's close friend and genuine musical hero Clark, "Outsider" finds this dream team alchemizing pure gold that's bigger than the sum of their parts. Skittering, intense, far-reaching end epic, the pair close proceedings on a grandly dramatic note. An in-demand remixer, Fake has added his magic to tracks by Radiohead, Clark, Perc, Jon Hopkins, GoGo Penguin, Dominik Eulberg, Christian Löffler, and Damian Lazarus, working for labels including Ninja Tune, Domino, Warp, Blue Note and Kompakt. 01. Arrival 02. The Grass (feat. Wizard Apprentice) 03. Vimana 04. Boss Core 05. Crystal Vision 06. CMD 07. Bibled 08. Hawk 09. Amen 96 10. Outsider (feat. Clark)