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.
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)