Tom Scholefield is the new darling of the Electronica- and IDM-Scene. Not just because he has transformed from electronics-graphic designer to musician. As he’s already known for his surreal artworks for Lorn, Hudson Mohawke, Rustie and Oneothrix Point Never, one would be tempted to analogize his music. It really is hard to elude this cut surface. »Regional Surrealism« presents itself with a cover made of edgy forms and flowing figures, organisms and hypertechnology. It’s a mixture of Alisdair Grays autobiographical Science-Fiction novel »Lanark« and the sprawling, organic decline in Paolo Seripieris »Droona«-Cartoon. Behind the cover – and this is what makes »Regional Surrealism« so magnificent – sonic landscapes are hiding far away from the flashy, pretentious pop-thought of today’s electronica – or far behind. Konx-Om-Pax happens after the age of club. No one’s even talking about »Post-something«. Being human is long gone. The dance temples are coated by crystal fences and mineral fields. Water is dripping in accurately chosen lanes. Apocalyptic choirs are rising. Unknown life is entwining itself mercilessly and slenderly around broken sculptures. In a vast context, »Regional Surrealism« is sound experiment and ambient, a challenge and an incredibly great fantasy-world – but more »Blade Runner« than Utopia. In its best moments, the world comes to a halt.
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