3 Electro Knights – Red Admiral EP / Rave One EP

Post

3 Electro Knights is a recent collaborative affair from members of Leeds band Bushpilot, who were active back in the nineties; here they have chosen electronic music as their jumping off point, an experiment in synthesis that finds the three members happily exploring the far reaches of their chosen instruments, usefully listed on the back of these two sprawling EPs.

Recorded back in 2019/2020, the music travels in that liminal half-light of empty streets and constant movement, drawing on the future but hinting in the rear-view mirror at looming shadows.

Starting with the Red Admiral EP, the self-titled opener is that electronic music of dark highways and fine angst, the synthetic movement crossed with the distant stream of textures, that slow assurance, the mysterious fire in the eye that is easily lost in the gloom, but sharpened by the glare of sodium lamps through tinted windows. The sense of travel smooth and unhindered, distorted tones shimmering high above.

It is a fine opener, which the hypnotic and minimalist piano motif of “Hidden Intent 2” pushes into a different direction, the light dancing on the edge of your vision as industrial clatter attempts to obscure the pattern, scurf scattered across the pretty but manic bows.

There is a kind of humanity in the shuddering rhythm of “Why Don’t You Cry Over Me” which is added to by Dominique Golden‘s slightly vocodered voice, veering into a touch of despair. The matter of fact delivery and the electronic excitement reminds a little of Audiobooks, but with more insistence and a desire to firmly make the point. Meanwhile, the electronics loop and circle, creating a cocoon for the voice. It turns into a drawn-out elegy that final track “Apparently Peaceful” moves away from once again.

Their differing moods are still reached with similar aesthetics, but here they push out into space, taking the vibe of “Hidden Intent 2”, but pushing it further, stretching it, seeing where its natural conclusion is, allowing the glimmer of starlight to enter and infuse the gradually evolving synth lines. It is a compelling and satisfying series of pieces that is part of a natural progression going back to Can and Yellow Magic Orchestra, but exploring the outer reaches where sub techno and glitchy electro meet.

The Rave One EP starts off in a more subterranean manner, and although the tracks from the two discs were recorded simultaneously, here the sharp stabs and low jabs follow a sultry beat that glints in sparse light, jagged streaks of noise briefly illuminating.

It has more of a techno feel, its underground train rhythm soothed by the surrounding layers that rise and fall. You can feel it reaching the surface and then descending again, cables touching and sparks flying.

It feels secure somehow, but with danger never far away. The “Mandy” mix of “I Move In Another Dimension” is simplicity itself, a pulsing beacon to frame a curious story as it descends into a crazed and vivid delivery moving into mania, double-tracked and effected. It is a very different vocal style to that on the previous EP and at points sounds like Suicide crossed with ROC, moving like a pulsebeat.

On the second side, “I Tense”, with its shaker rhythm and long mind-expanding journey, was the first thing the trio completed and it is perhaps the ultimate extension of their aesthetic; a simple series of diverse textures, a slow, sticky feel in unison with a harsh, metallic head-crack. It moves on its imperturbable way with the slow precision of a hunting snake, constantly searching; and as with all good, long explorations, it evolves slowly, hypnotising and drawing you further in until you are under its spell.

These two releases are adventurous and propulsive with enough comfort to demand repeat listens. They look gorgeous on coloured vinyl and there is no excuse not to head for Bandcamp and snap some up.

-Mr Olivetti-