Glok-Pattern recognition (ORANG VINYL)
glok is the electronic alter ego of andy bell; best-known as the guitarist in venerated shoegazers ride, alongside stints in other famous groups, with a noteworthy solo career too. his first album proper as glok – ‘pattern recognition’ – is released via ransom note records’ sister label bytes. although usually renowned for purveying the finest quality jangle, drone and general guitar-based magic, bell’s foray into dance music should come as less of a surprise than immediately meets the eye. there are parallels between the genres within the sonically-deep layers, hypnotic sound and trance-like headspaces, or, as he puts it more succinctly: “glok is all about the push and pull between electronic and psych in my music.” although not a full-blown concept album, ‘pattern recognition’ has a loose thread which takes in a week of life, from weekend to weekend, with each of the vinyl’s four sides capturing different mindstates across that transition. each side has a distinct feel that’s different to the last but inherently cohesive – much like the changes an individual goes through over 7 days. across the album with loving craft andy weaves together throbbing dubbed-out acid, steamy jack trax, levitational psychedelia, sparkling balearic, techno, kosmische, shoegaze, art rock and compass point-style post punk – with just a hint of ambient, new age and contemporary classical too.
glok is the electronic alter ego of andy bell; best-known as the guitarist in venerated shoegazers ride, alongside stints in other famous groups, with a noteworthy solo career too. his first album proper as glok – ‘pattern recognition’ – is released via ransom note records’ sister label bytes. although usually renowned for purveying the finest quality jangle, drone and general guitar-based magic, bell’s foray into dance music should come as less of a surprise than immediately meets the eye. there are parallels between the genres within the sonically-deep layers, hypnotic sound and trance-like headspaces, or, as he puts it more succinctly: “glok is all about the push and pull between electronic and psych in my music.” although not a full-blown concept album, ‘pattern recognition’ has a loose thread which takes in a week of life, from weekend to weekend, with each of the vinyl’s four sides capturing different mindstates across that transition. each side has a distinct feel that’s different to the last but inherently cohesive – much like the changes an individual goes through over 7 days. across the album with loving craft andy weaves together throbbing dubbed-out acid, steamy jack trax, levitational psychedelia, sparkling balearic, techno, kosmische, shoegaze, art rock and compass point-style post punk – with just a hint of ambient, new age and contemporary classical too.
glok is the electronic alter ego of andy bell; best-known as the guitarist in venerated shoegazers ride, alongside stints in other famous groups, with a noteworthy solo career too. his first album proper as glok – ‘pattern recognition’ – is released via ransom note records’ sister label bytes. although usually renowned for purveying the finest quality jangle, drone and general guitar-based magic, bell’s foray into dance music should come as less of a surprise than immediately meets the eye. there are parallels between the genres within the sonically-deep layers, hypnotic sound and trance-like headspaces, or, as he puts it more succinctly: “glok is all about the push and pull between electronic and psych in my music.” although not a full-blown concept album, ‘pattern recognition’ has a loose thread which takes in a week of life, from weekend to weekend, with each of the vinyl’s four sides capturing different mindstates across that transition. each side has a distinct feel that’s different to the last but inherently cohesive – much like the changes an individual goes through over 7 days. across the album with loving craft andy weaves together throbbing dubbed-out acid, steamy jack trax, levitational psychedelia, sparkling balearic, techno, kosmische, shoegaze, art rock and compass point-style post punk – with just a hint of ambient, new age and contemporary classical too.