The Leaf Library + Teruyuki Kurihara — Melody Tomb

Globe spanning collaboration of The Leaf Library and Teruyuki Kurihara sees their debut, Melody Tomb, out on Mille Plateaux as a double vinyl press. With The Leaf Library handling the synth drones, and Kurihara in charge of arranging and combining their pieces to establish their whole. A delightful 50/50 style of collaboration, Melody Tomb is a droning, noisy, electronic descent into the belly of the robotic beast.

Opening with the fluctuating "Distal," the listener gets the hint right away that this isn't a typical drone-based album. Fluttering beats and writhing layers all pulse and propulsion while still maintaining that vital, drone gravity. Industrial to the core, this is just a tip of the iceberg. "Kite Beach" moves in a light electronic direction, with spirals upward like bubbles on an underwater level of a video game. Breaking from the intensity of the opener, this respite allows ample time for relaxation and reflection. "Constant Waves" brings the droning back to the forefront and slows the album back down. Somewhat subterranean in feeling, the pieces here work well together like different pieces of factory machines - each with their own part to play in the overall whole. Bringing out the soundscape side, "Various Futures" mixes light chaos with shimmering, bright drones.

"Paper Area" starts off the second LP and mirrors that of the first slab's "Distal." Like a mellow version of Dissecting Table, frantic tones and propulsion add a sense of unease and serve as a great contrast to the finale of the first record. Making a grand segue into "Artefact," the beats continue into an electro-industrial jam. Not too far removed from the likes of Winterkalte, this track really showcases Kurihara's ability to turn samples on their ears. This moves into the drugged-out dream of a dance number, "Boundary." Turning from this upbeat and welcoming stretch, Melody Tomb closes with the rough, spacey, and distant "Vertical Margins." Utilizing more noise and harsher drones, this one hits like a fire aboard a spaceship and leaves the listener to fumble for their own way out.

Utilizing various tones, methods, and drones, The Leaf Library and Teruyuki Kurihara's first collaboration, Melody Tomb, is an exciting and vibrant piece of electronic music. Shifting gears from one song to the next, the listener is always on their toes to see where the album is taking them. A wonderful debut outing, the artists plan on working together again in the future, and we'd all be happy to hear the results. Head here for more