Port-Royal

"Deca-Dance"

I have a soft spot for the type of sweet, crackling white noise that runs rampant throughout Port-Royal’s Afraid To Dance. There’s something comforting in the sound of noise being coaxed into something melodic. After meandering through misty textures and aimless washes of sound, they hit hard on “Deca-Dance” with a squeaky four-on-the-floor beat. The usual culprits (guitars in heavy reverb, airy synths, ocean-like washes) flood the mix. As if to remain true to the album title, they eventually abandon the danceable drum track and opt for scattered, off-beat bass drums. The whole scene eventually melts away, leaving whatever sounds are left to wallow in an icy cave. Afraid To Dance sounds like a band inside a machine. Its instruments break the surface every now and then, but remain plagued by the cold noise of one’s and zeros. It’s dark and beautiful—possibly a terribly accurate window into the future.



Download >>Deca-Dance

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