FAINT WAVES

To say I’m familiar with Statues‘ work would be an understatement. We’ve collectively known of one another for many years now, have supported each other on and off, and both have had a close working relationship with Eclectics as a label. The production duo, comprised of Bradley Lucke and Mark Crooks (and their revolving door of special guests), have made a number of appearances on the Eclectics label. My first exposure to them was Visions, an extended play and their inaugural release on Eclectics, back in 2020. As an associate of the label, I had been supplied promos of the tracks early and was thoroughly impressed by the sonic melting pot that Statues were delivering. So much so that I had to pick up the release on vinyl (it was very deserving of the vinyl treatment), and I’m happy to say it’s still in my collection today.

All of this is merely to preface that I am aware of Statues and their work; the courses they chart are of interest to me, and their latest is no exception. As for our shared label, Eclectics, who have released their newest outing? Eclectics went on hiatus back in 2022, but now the label is back and has been slowly but steadily relaunching all year. This return is bolstered now by the aforementioned new release from label stalwart, Statues, with The Pilina Exhibition. The Pilina Exhibition is in line with the organic, Jazz-tinged, Electronic music that Statues have become known for in the last five years. The Alternative, Balearic nature of their work persists, melding acoustics, synths, and drum samples into a left-field (but accessible) melange.

The EP kicks off with “Pilina”, which immediately catches your ear with synthetic filter noise, a sound akin to an industrial fan or a distant helicopter (funnily enough, it brought to mind a strange combination of M.A.S.H and Pink Floyd; take from that what you will). The track then opens proper with a beautiful strummed guitar, natural and pristine. Underneath, a soft synth string carries a caravan of electronics into focus, and the song leaves its acoustic beginnings behind. That isn’t to say the tune abandons all organic instrumentation; it’s still a wonderfully orchestrated amalgam as it grows and evolves. “Evolves” being the key word, as the track never sits still for too long; it is always unfurling. Where a guitar may drift out of focus, a bongo may come in, and then a droning pad will give way to an electric piano segment. It’s the sort of composition that makes music still feel like a bit of a mystery, a bit magical; it takes you on a journey, and you may not understand all of it on your first listen, but you’re going to enjoy it.

The title-adjacent track “Pilina” is then remixed by North Of The Island, the moniker of Mancunian Chillout producer, Neil Scott. While I haven’t followed North Of The Island closely in the years since, I am aware of him and did manage to get in on the ground floor of his 2021 debut, Kit Kat (do check it out). The NOTI remix offers a respectful but transformative take on “Pilina”, bringing to mind the likes of Tangerine Dream. Those elements were vaguely present in the standard version of the tune, too, but the electronic nature of this remix seems to draw more attention to them. The vintage drum machine samples, the distant arp, the bubbling foundation, the guitar and the sax punctuation—something about it is very Risky Business and Dead Solid Perfect to me; it’s right in that pocket. This is amplified as the track progresses; it’s driving cinema, with a muscular beat, it’s music for mellow momentum. The TB-303 hits in the remix don’t hurt either, they make their presence known in an understated way throughout and serve as a fitting coda as the remix comes to a close.

The next track is B-Side, “Ballet”. Immediately, Talking Heads and Roxy Music sprang to mind; the percussive acoustic guitar is reminiscent of “Burning Down The House”, while the drum machine theatrics echo “Same Old Scene”, respectively. These comparisons are fleeting, and, to be fair? Any resemblance almost immediately vanishes once the song begins proper. Rather, the song lands somewhere between Robert Miles and Quadrophenia, if they had been produced by Rhett Davies. It’s organic Dream House, thumping, and ethereal. Where “Pilina” was all about evolution and progression, “Ballet” is about propulsive hypnosis. The drone is broken up to spectacular effect by vaguely psychedelic guitars; the electric guitars boast a warm and fuzzy, neo-70’s flavor, complimentary of the near-tribal drive of the song. I know I like to draw comparisons in my writing; I make associations in my head, and frankly, your mileage may vary in terms of understanding them. The guitars here, though, are pure Statues; I can’t really think of anything that has quite this kaleidoscopic musical effect—it’s really beautifully executed. That sort of mixing and melding to create an interwoven fabric of sound is where Bradley and Mark excel.

Last but not least, North Of The Island returns for another remix, this time of “Ballet”. The result is a dubby joint that puts the sax front and center against a TR-808 (or similar) backdrop and amplifies the trippiness with some vox. It’s an altogether different interpretation and brings to mind Jeff Buckley’s “New Year’s Prayer” for some reason, not in sound but in texture. There’s that mid-to-late 90’s nu-psychedelia to it; the sort of blurry, soft-focus atmosphere. Where the North Of The Island remix of “Pilina” was sort of punchy and cinematic, this remix plays its cards differently, crafting a hazy Dancehall BGM that would bode well in a chillout room. There’s a bit of everything here, and that’s exactly what I appreciate about a Statues release: there’s separation and mixture and similarity and contrast, interwoven and intermingling simultaneously. As a Statues release, The Pilina Exhibition is 100% on brand and one of their finest outings to date. As an Eclectics release, it too is on brand and a lovely start to a new era. One I’m happy to be a part of. Go listen to The Pilina Exhibition, listen to Statues, follow Eclectics, and keep an eye out for more new music soon.

Thanks for reading.

The Pilina Exhibition is out now on Bandcamp and Juno, coming soon to streaming.