Label: Oathcreations
Cat No: OATH028
Format: Vinyl / Digital
Genre: IDM / Experimental / Breaks
Release Date:
Mar 6 – Ywhw (Single)
March 20 – EP
Buy / Pre Order: https://oathcreations.bandcamp.com/album/vault-with-holes
For Oath’s latest release, the imprint is proud to present ‘Vault with Holes’, the very first record from French production duo C.ling, whose curious ears and dexterous approach yield a musical creation rich in sonic diversity, unparalleled range, and boundless possibility.
C.ling consists of lifelong friends Paul Brunet and Alexandre Maillet, who originally met in their hometown of Bordeaux but are now based in Paris and Brussels. The pair’s audio approach was initially inspired by genres and sounds not typically present within Bordeaux’s local music scene, which led them to look beyond the periphery and digging deep into the continent’s extensive and sonically diverse electronic music network. This experimental, boundless framework and ethos, when paired with their classical background, led to the duo to toy with a variety of instrumentation and melting pots of sound, from which their rich musical universe has emerged. Combining hyper-kinetic sound design, thoughtful and delicate instrumentation, and a fluid, polyrhythmic layering approach, C.ling’s sound speaks to the senses via its immersive scenery and harmonic, pulsating undercurrent. Like the shiftings of sand or the gentleness of a breeze, their music is embellished with deeper meanings, one which murmur and shift through the drums, keys, guitar, violins, vocals, field recordings and more. It’s music that perceives uniquely, feeling its stylistic journey out through spaces of which some feel well trodden, whilst others are being walked through for the first time. Herein lies the magic at the heart of C.ling’s sound.
‘Vault with Holes’ encapsulates the musical universe that C.ling have crafted, in more ways than one. The record is rooted in the theme of remembrance, which surfaces and permeates through enlightening and revealing song structures and motifs. Genre-less at times, the pair merge both distinctiveness and a sense of sinuous musical feeling throughout the record, where the thresholds between songs feel like chapter breaks – reading up on past glories yet firmly rooted in the day to day, effortlessly presented through hyper-polished, thought-provoking musical outputs.
‘Divx’ begins with melodic splendour and lays down the benchmark for the experiences to come. Falling in and out of view with purpose and vigour, sparse yet impactful drum patterns are flung across the mid-range, enticing focus and allowing for alignment with the soul of the track. The rhythm and keys settle into a dense yet delicate textural array, with cascades of shining, 2000s-inspired notes simmering amongst the by now fully fledged kicks. From the sun-kissed fields to the club, this track shifts perspective so subtly that the listener is firmly placed in both worlds.
‘Harvesting Ages’ begins once again with the melodies in setting the tone. The singular becomes multiple, with layers of evocative pads converging and splitting, which sets out a myriad of sound collages which consistently rearrange themselves. The evolution is paced out, allowing for the most to be made of this enticing arrangement, with the build-up leading to the complete shift into the guitar and drum-laden final third. The build controlled the shift expertly, as the listener is guided along on a gilded cloud, as the shift in ambience and instrumentation makes for deeply pleasurable listening.
‘Shallow Reflections’ lands next, and suddenly the expanse opens up. Heavy set pads prowl and pan across the backdrop, as a hearty beat sits within the centre as a holding mechanism. The track continually searches across its auditory tundra, as vocal snippets call out across the flatness towards the mountainous peaks. Sparse by design, this track reserves a lot within itself, allowing the listener to explore its many nuanced layers and spaces – much like the mind forgets, and has to reconnect to itself, to explore memories.
‘Ywhw’ slides into view next, acting as the album’s pivot point of mood and tone. The melody is held down by the guitar, melancholy in its appearance and deliberate in its placement, operating as an anchor point for other harmonic elements to breeze in and out of view. The track engulfs the scope yet remains rooted at the same time, showcasing the pair’s ability to draw multiple perspectives within their music – to be singular yet as part of many, all at once. The beatless composition draws compelling pictures that could be viewed time and time again, and to interpret would be to conjure up new ways of viewing, listening and experiencing.
‘Mutalism’ shifts gears into a ready-made ensemble. The metallic fills of the drums align with the meandering, pulsating melodic sequences, with bass notes permeating through the bottom ends to great effect. An air of 90s ambient techno fills the room, as the track continues to undulate to great effect, speaking to memories of happiness and introspectiveness – to searching deep within, to remind us of strengths and the bonds we have formed with others.
Lastly, ‘Stranded Matter’ lands into view, the final stanza in this most extraordinary of musical narratives. This number draws upon a lot of the motifs and sound design that have come before, with a denser layout and a much more up-tempo pulse. The swelling pads come thick and fast within the outer reaches, as the parameters of sound do much to create a sense of intimacy yet vastness. This creates a curious parallel, where layering works in unison with sound building, creating an atmosphere of intrigue that never lets go. It’s a fitting end to a musical experience that morphs and flows through time signatures, endlessly deep sonics and a boundless plethora of styles and environments. A debut that speaks volumes of what C.ling have developed, and alludes to a very special journey still yet to come – here’s to stepping along with them, one triumphant record at a time.
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