Torn Hawk & Black Deer - Torn Hawk/Black Deer

Single

14 Mar

The L.I.E.S. crew is a ragtag bunch full of some esoteric minds and musical savants. I think it's fair to say Ron Morrelli has crafted and curated a label with an iconic sound. The colourful, characterful artist provides enough twists and turns to keep every release at the forefront of people's radars. Recently, the collaboration between Torn Hawk and Willie Burns (Black Deer) hit streaming services, titled Torn Hawk/Black Deer (2013), exemplifying the twists and turns that have made a name for the label.

Predominantly a dance label airing on the side of "Lo-F" techno and house, a L.I.E.S. record usually comes with a few things as standard: Crunch drums, saturated synths and moody DIY aesthetics. Torn Hawk/Black Deer takes these building blocks and injects some real creativity into a divergent two-tracker. 'Apex Break' just about fits the mould. A dusty house beat cementing it within the L.I.E.S. cannon, if not a bit loosely. The use of a fluctuating melody flirts with the idea of "the loop" without ever fully committing. The track feels as though we are taken through overtures, with change being the only constant, which is an odd choice for the dance track, right? Things take a turn with 'Warm Sprawl Shorter', couldn't be further from its counterpart. It's an indulgent, meandering piece that plays to its own rules. The 15-minute epic mashes together space disco, dub and country, a combination I never thought I'd say.

Describing this release in its component parts does the record no justice when it comes down to brass tacks. Yes, L.I.E.S. is typically a dance label. No, these are particularly dancey tunes. BUT they perfectly fit the L.I.E.S. ethos of doing things differently. What's harder to pin down is the overwhelming sense of serenity and bubbling euphoria you experience listening to the far-out plucks on 'Warm Sprawl Shorter'. Vibrancy is woven into every subtle screech of distortion, giving you more on every repeat listen. As the delays swell over the folk guitar playing, a palpable sense of belonging rushes up my spine as if remembering the old stereo playing in my grandad's kitchen. Similar can be said for 'Apex Brea', the expansive use of melody is refreshing and adds new dynamism to the track. Plucky arpeggios dance cut about like an amphetamine-laden Viennese waltz, zigzagging and spinning endlessly. There's an uncanny carefreeness to Torn Hawk/Black Deer that I can see resonating with quite a few people who want a different flavour to their "Lo-F" offerings. The duo shows that there are several ways to skin a cat, but I assure you, no animals were harmed in the writing of this review.

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