"A lot has changed since Swiss imprint Project Indigo put out the second of these various LPs, and Efflorescence III is the sweet distilled nectar, the result of a maturation and development of a sound that’s been churning away under the watchful gaze of some of the most discerning producers in the scene."
The Efflorescence series, released over a span of what is now seven years, has in that time serenely, effortlessly, on a cloud of its own softly whispered melodies, drifted into that much revered status of the ‘highly anticipated’. A lot has changed since Swiss imprint Project Indigo put out the second of these various LPs, and Efflorescence III is the sweet distilled nectar, the result of a maturation and development of a sound that’s been churning away under the watchful gaze of some of the most discerning producers in the scene.
It’s apt then that the album opener comes courtesy of Lb Honne, whose recent work has struck that ever-elusive chord with the more judicious listeners out there, on releases such as his recent Guardwatcher Pt. I and his debut album, also released on Project Indigo, Present Future / Here There.
The compilation series has always had a leaning for head in the clouds kind of dreaminess rather than sweat-fuelled euphoria, and his track Six Castles deftly sets that tone, as he combines loopy little arps, soft, key-like synth notes and high, harmonious pad work into an ambient piece that still manages to call up some of that moody melancholy, the emotional core that runs through Guardwatcher Pt. I.
Flabaire’s Summer Sun opens in hazy, slow-mo syncopation, accompanied by warm, rich, pads, before we’re treated to a lazily hissing hats, a deep bass, scatty, broken up vocal samples and guitar sampling. It’s kind of hard to imagine this track wasn’t written from the glow of a sunrise over the pulsing of gentle surf. Heck, maybe it was.
From downtempo, hip-hop adjacent to trance tinged – linked by that deep house/dub techno road – we arrive at Iltaa’s If Only, all starry-eyed synth work, harmonic progressions straight from the get-’em-in-the-feels playbook, and skipping hats that affect the feet as potently as the heart. A slow, wistful turner, colourful and dreamy.
Turning our attention to Dream With Me, submission from label co-founder Boaski, his tapestry of high, pinging, synthy stabs and an impudent little bassline, furnished with a crisp, minimal percussion sequence, results in something that stirs up that fuzzy warm sensation that certain corners of the Giegling catalogue also rouses.
Tibi Dabo continues down this path on Fever Pitch, a glitchy, restless little groover that adopts a similar bouncy tempo, and rolling, playful bassline, but enriches this recipe with some of that breathy, emotion-soaked synth work. Lovely contrast between skippy playfulness and navel-gazing introspection here.
Soft Ice is an inevitable sink into the sonic murk. Ben Kaczor has plumbed the depths of this burgeoning scene more deeply than most, and those excursions are made evident as he threads together dramatic, choral chord progressions, an insistent, sidewinding synth and moody, grainy kick through a mist of tape hiss. Tension builds only to be eased slowly, the listener deposited gently back to earth, a bit of a masterclass in doing a lot with little this one.
Sœnne is only one of three producers who also appears on Efflorescence II, and their contribution to the third iteration steers us into that classy, Chicago inspired deep house direction. Never a bad thing, especially with those nice, ringing tones that provide colour to the twitchy bass line. Your Self is a tune for elegant jacking.
Label mainstay Hame builds on the rapidly snowballing momentum he’s helped set in motion on his recent releases with one of the highlights of the album. Cheeky Dub utilises all the razor-sharp percussion sequencing he displays masterful control over on his debut LP Élan, creating such swing and mood from meticulously processed elements, from the light reverb on certain snares to the little bursts of distortion that flare up in the shadows. And of course there are the ubiquitous, lush chord progressions to counter it all – warm, soothing, danceable.
The album comes to a close with Hobie’s Calling In Stuck, and it seems kind of fitting that here we find the soundscape stripped back to its bare essentials. A simple, soft house number built around a bright hat and cosy attitudes, there’s an (almost) lo-fi feel to the tones and textures, a nostalgic nod to the earlier renditions of Efflorescence.
Which feels right – the sound so expertly curated and displayed on Efflorescence III is one that’s been buffed to its gentle gleam over a number of years, releases, parties and hours in the studio. But this gesture to the earlier sounds that inspired the label are a reminder that even as the specific sound evolves, there’s always that underlying emotional thread of sincerity and dedication to quality that really ties the room together. Essential afters equipage.
Efflorescence III is out now via Project Indigo. Buy vinyl at Inverted Audio Record Store.
TRACKLIST
1. Lb Honne – Six Castles
2. Flabaire – Summer Sun
3. Iltaa – If Inly
4. Boaksi – Dream With Me
5. Tibi Dabo – Fever Pitch
6. Ben Kaczor – Soft Ice
7. Sœnne – Your Self
8. Hame – Cheeky Dub
9. Hobie – Calling In Stuck
