American producer and seasoned record label curator Brian Foote is set to launch his new imprint, FO, this May, debuting with the self-titled album from UK-based band Rest Symbol.
For over two decades, Foote has been a vital figure on the fringes of underground electronic music, earning recognition for his production work with Kranky and as co-founder of the esteemed labels Peak Oil and False Aralia. His sharp curatorial instincts and dedication to championing forward-thinking sounds have influenced many, with his releases frequently reviewed and featured on Inverted Audio.
Now, 25 years into his musical journey, Foote embarks on a new chapter with FO, his first solo imprint. The label launches with a deeply immersive debut—an album steeped in downtempo and trip-hop from Rest Symbol, a collaborative project featuring London-based Molinaro, alongside Moreiya and Wendy Lavone.
Originally released in 2023 as a limited edition CD, Rest Symbol now get the vinyl treatment courtesy of FO. Each member of the band brings a wealth of experience, with solo releases spanning Apron, Touching Bass, 5 Gate Temple, and Molinaro’s own AN1MA imprint. Moreiya’s work as a filmmaker also weaves into the project, adding a visual dimension to their music.
Rest Symbol’s music feels like trip-hop decomposing in real time—crumbled breaks drift off-grid and melt into caramel, viscous string phrases erode under layers of tape noise, and Moreiya’s powerful voice is swallowed by cavernous reverb. Their surrealist approach offers a much-needed tonic for a genre long left to decay.
Rest Symbol is scheduled for release on 23 May via FO. Buy a vinyl copy from Inverted Audio Record Store.
TRACKLIST
1. (Rest)
2. Ascending Shadow
3. Empty Sun
4. ETIUS MOTIF
5. Skin
6. 6
7. Darkness Settles In Perception
8. Twelfth Hour
9. (Break)