Pavel Milyakov - Euphoric Visions
One of my struggles as an electronic music fan is the constant pressure to explain that electronic music is more than just EDM. I'm forever trying to push past big dance music's chokehold over the genre. Don't get me wrong, dance music can be vibrant, nostalgic, and hold a special place in people's hearts. However, equating electronic music to this small remit doesn't favour artists or audiences. That's why I always have a back catalogue of excellent albums that stay clear of dance music tropes in my back pocket just in case these conversations come up—Pavel Milyakov's latest release, Euphoric Visions, is the newest addition to that list.
Euphoric Visions is nearly unmatched in its ability to transport you to a world that seems so familiar. From the ground up, this release unpacks the bone-chilling loneliness that most people will relate to at some point. Milyakov has an uncanny ability to remind me of the brisk chill that runs down your spine as the silence hits you on your trundle back home from the night before. Euphoric Visions is a chilling album from the first chilling vocalisation by Martyna Basta, whose icy vocal performance coupled with deep and soulful bluesy guitars that well in the background of their collaborative effort on 'moon chat' to the last breathy utterance of Yana Pavlova, who brings a beautiful washed-out atmosphere on 'thrill'. A mix of country plucking and deflated drums emanate mood and punctuate the most sonically upbeat offering on the record.
The two standouts on the record are both featuring Richie Culver. The duo strikes an excellent partnership as their styles balance each other and create something greater than the sum of its parts. On the one hand, Milyakov's production is haunting. At the same time, Culver's spoken word is sublime and so grounded when he takes on the role of the narrator. Both tracks are dramatic and drenched in rain, with a distinct flavour of urban decay about both of them. 'tesco' capitalises on distant trance leads that echo as Culver's gravelly vocals depict the beauty of fluorescent signs against the water. On the other hand, 'drifted off' wears its influence proudly, with some compositional elements that take it to the next level. The stuttering 2-step drums and Reese basses wobbles wouldn't sound out of place on Burials Untrue, but those vocals from Culver add the X factor that nuance to the track.
That crushing cold loneliness heard throughout Pavel Milyakov and Co's Euphoric Visions feels oppressive but makes you feel heard. It makes those sombre times feel validated. Euphoric Visions' ambience and atmosphere transport you back to those heavy emotions, but only this time you are alone. Euphoric Visions does a great job of unpacking the problems with the human condition in modern times. It's a genuinely inspiring EP that will stick with people. It's a piece I'd recommend to everyone to understand how deep electronics can connect with your emotions.
Tracklist:
moon chat feat. Martyna Basta
tesco feat. Richie Culver
the eternal break feat. Torus
gabba-17
drifting off feat. Richie Culver
thrill feat. Yana Pavlova
Label: Psy X Records
Pavel Milyakov - Euphoric Visions
