Ulrika Spacek – EXPO

Description

If art is to be exhibited, then Ulrika Spacek will ensure that their art iscollective; that even as the world becomes inhospitable to community, theirintentions are an act of resistance.

Whether it is Oysterland, the self-curated night the band have been hostingfor over ten years to platform artists of other disciplines in live music spaces,or Total Refreshment Centre, the East London studio Syd runs whichconnects the dots between the jazz scene and like-minded experimentalartists of the capital and beyond, or their creative bleed as musicians andproducers over the years with the likes of Crack Cloud, caroline, DIIV, Holy
Wave and Slowdive, the bands existence is inseparable from theircommunity.

In a hyper-individual world, the bands fourth album, EXPO, offers anantidote. Its there, in the shared dream logic of the music, the off-kiltermelodies, jagged guitars and cirrus cloud atmospherics. Its there, in all thethings that are said and unsaid between them; there in the writing, producingand mixing processes they share in. And even as each of their parts movestoward a unified vision, its never more keenly felt than in the bigger pictureto which Ulrika Spacek belong.

Though their well-established foundations are in the art-rock world – andthough they are inspired by electronic elements more than ever – UlrikaSpacek are interested in the glitch that exists between the two. Their musicreckons with human warmth and digital isolation, equal parts welcoming andaltogether alienating. Our music has always been a collage – a bitpatchwork, sonically – but what makes this album a landmark for us is thatwe went one step further and made our own sample bank, explains singer /guitarist Rhys. They create their own doppelgngers in a world of almost-real, where the band appear as if in a hall of mirrors. Digital drums aresampled layered upon real drums, and the effect is almost like birth in reverse – pulled from the ether and returned back to the tangible world.

Theres a lot that can be said about writing when there is no aim, there is afreedom and a purity in it which opens a door to more music, and in thiscase, it set a mood for a new album, one that would be colder, darker andone that would embrace electronics and new instrumentation in a newterrain, the band share. The albums greater theme is isolation andalienation in an online world where it seems everybody around you isconstantly exhibiting themselves, living in public wanting to be seen andheard. The age of individuality is lonely, its a room of concave mirrors, andwith this in mind, we set upon making our most collective effort; Its back tostrength in numbers, count in fives.

For fans of Radiohead, Moin, DIIV, Astrel K, Slowdive.

LP available to independent retailers on Blue Marble coloured vinyl. Standard LP presented on Crystal Clear vinyl.

Tracklist:

1.Intro
2.Picto
3.I Could Just Do It
4.Build a Box Then Break It
5.This Time I’m Present
6.Showroom Poetry
7.Expo
8.Square Root of None
9.Weights & Measures
10.A Modern Low
11.Incomplete Symphony