As we make our way into ‘ROJO’, there’s an overwhelming feeling of having stepped into a unique and purposeful artistic space, a peculiar music environment that’s intensely emotional and cathartic. That’s exactly how the listening experience unfolds: a stream of experimental electronica and soulful textures drenched in pop melodism and a highly eclectic character. A hybrid between Mount Kimbie and James Blake comes to mind, although references are clearly numerous and well hidden behind the project’s own artistry.
Behind ‘ROJO’ we find American creative Harris Mac, here using the record to process a number of difficult emotions, as well as kickstarting a brand new musical era. It’s a bit of a roller coaster, in terms of moods, a feature that’s largely mirrored in the album’s production. Harris uses minimalism and silences masterfully, borrowing from a variety of contemporary genres without any self-imposed limitation.
Delving deeper into the meaningful and crepuscular ethos that propels the album, we are told: “ROJO, Spanish for red, represents intensity: love, danger, passion, urgency. The colour of emotional extremes saturates every corner of the record. At its core, ‘ROJO’ is a document of surrender, letting go of control and perfection and allowing the music to exist as it is.” If anyone is keen for more, a special extended edition of the album has been published on Bandcamp.
Recommended! Discover ‘ROJO’ now: