808 Dot.Pop – Incandescent (Chromium + Platinum) (Single + EP – Alfa Matrix)
Genre/Influences: Electro-pop.
Format: Digital.
Background/Info: Metroland’s ’Passenger S’ is back on track unleashing the third single/EP from his debut album “The Colour Temperature”. It in fact consists of 2 separate productions, a single plus an EP; “Chromium” featuring two songs and “Platinum” featuring three tracks. Notice by the way “Incandescent” will also be released as a limited 7” entitled “Tantalum”.
Content: There clearly is a very strong connection between the music of Metroland and 808 Dot.Pop, but this solo-project has something more melodic and ‘refreshing’. The “Chromium”-single brings a kind of ‘radio-edit’ from the “Incandescent”-song, which is characterized by bleeping sequences, robotic female vocals and a danceable cadence. The B-side song is a new cut entitled “Metal Halide” on, which you’ll rediscover deep-resonating bass lines and the typical ‘Kraftwerk-ian pop’ music.
The “Platinum”-EP features extended edits of “Incandescent” and “Metal Halide” plus the previously unreleased “Seeing Heat”, which sounds a bit more into minimalism.
+ + + : “Incandescent” was not my favorite song from the album and yet it’s a cool cut revealing the typical robotic pop music of the Belgian project. I like the sound treatments and deep bass vibrations, which are mainly emerging at “Metal Halide”. “Seeing Heat” is another nice surprise and I especially like this track for its minimalism. So in the end I would say both productions feature a cool title track (I’ve a preference for the ‘radio edit’) and a cool B-side cut while “Seeing Heat” definitely sounds like a song to discover.
– – – : You like it or not, but I’m not a huge fan of endless remixes and alternative edits. Passenger S however remains a huge fan and follower of the old 4AD formula.
Conclusion: This production(s) is a cool way to get back to the debut album of 808 Dot.Pop. It’s not my favorite maxi from the list although a fully enjoyable one.
Best songs: “Incandescent – Chromium”, “Seeing Heat”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/808dotpop
Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix
About 808 Dot.Pop
808 Dot.Pop is the solo electropop project of Metroland‘s Rene Andries, active under the “Passenger S” alias. The project debuted in 2019 with the singles “Jingle Pop” and “Blackbodies (Pulsation)”, ahead of the 2020 debut album “The Colour Temperature” on Alfa Matrix. Its singles have followed a radio-frequency naming scheme, from “Kelvin (4200)” and “Incandescent (Chromium)” in 2020 through a run of AM/FM/MW-titled releases in 2023. 808 Dot.Pop also released the albums “The Cubic Temperature” (2021) and “Suncatcher” (2022).
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