#slow babylon

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Discovery: Slow Babylon

With a track that could be off the Stranger Things soundtrack, Russian instrumental act Slow Babylon has crept into our consciousness. (more…)

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Slow Babylon - Self-Titled (EP)

“Self-Titled” (EP) Slow Babylon Recorded and produced by Leo Vasilets (Slow Babylon)  Released March 26, 2018 / Self-Released Words: Peter Quincy Ng

Slow Babylon is the latest project from Moscow’s Lev “Leo” Vasilets formerly from the short-lived electro pop act BONEAGE. Unlike the hook-heavy flows from his previous work, the project takes a more experimental air meshing the previous and present with future funk sounds. Combining elements of space disco with elements of psychedelic guitars, Lev wanted to imagine the sound as wild and as funky as what he called “Pablo Escobar’s mustache”. Speaking about Slow Babylon, Vasilets imagines the marriage of synth analogues with funky beats while drawing influences from what he calls the Golden Era of funk and soul: Parliament Funkadelic and Hihache. 

A wonderful palette of the weird and wonderful, Slow Babylon’s influences are evident on his five-track record. His music jumps right into what he calls that space disco sound, with the scintillating glimmer of trickling synths sparkling over robotic beep and boom; so think Lindstrøm or Space with his opener “The Bell” and track “Funk About It”. On the other hand, there’s the strong acidic snarl and trippy daze of “Red Lights”, tapping into groovy psychedelics and the heavenly beckon of featuring vocalist Angie Amour. Track “Silk Road” is another of Lev’s experiments, and although the sound is undeniably funk, the track’s unusual pacing borrows elements from what he calls “Pakistani fusion” delving into the percussive patterns often found in Central and South Asian music while layering it with elements of hippie organ and trippy soundbytes. Finally, is the final track and lead single of his EP, “Hypnotic” fusing break-beat shuffles over snappy bass lines that flow over the cosmic drift of layering synths and whispering growl. Quick, upbeat, weird and funky, it’s a fitting end and fun trip-out to this colorful amalgamation of sound.