As one dips into the reservoir of ambient electronic, there’s an intriguing juxtaposition of the old with the new. It’s a dance of timelessness with the urgency of the present, of retrospective insights with future-driven impulses.
Koala Karlous – an embodiment of Cornwall-based Brandon Hargrave’s introspection – feels like a ripple in this vast expanse. A project born during the stifling grip of lockdown, there’s an inherent sense of the shackles breaking free in his work, a deep-rooted need for expression that is inescapable in its intensity.
Listening to “Patience,” one gets enveloped in its introspective and ethereal layers. It’s not a mere piece of music; it’s an atmospheric narrative. Hargrave, with a history rooted in Franklin and the tangible weight of a BMG-signature, isn’t a novice to this realm. But there’s a raw, untouched feel to Koala Karlous.
The seamless intermingling of genres in “Patience” is worthy of note. The track doesn’t just exist – it thrives, pulling influences from the likes of Bonobo, Yoste, and Zero 7, yet never losing its distinct identity. Brandon’s vocal dynamics with Emma McGrath hint at an almost symbiotic connection, a shared journey through Hargrave’s dreamlike soundscape. The track’s production, layered and intricate, reveals Hargrave’s depth as a musician, each listen unraveling a new layer, a fresh perspective.
In “Patience,” Koala Karlous beckons the listener to shed the rush, to lose oneself in the fluidity of time, and to embrace the ethereal beauty of stillness. In a world perpetually in motion, such an invitation is not just tempting; it’s almost a siren call.
