asKesem - EVACUATION (2019)

asKesem emerges from the US electronic underbelly with a noirishly cyber style of techno and sci-fi soundtrack-y atmospheres their ace debut LP for the fledgling Ambrosia NYC label.

Prefaced by the furtive techno roller ‘Den Heart’, the rest of the LP pays up on that cut’s moody premise with a slick mix of layered sound design and rhythmic suss. The acid-amniotic fluidity of ’Sinking’ in the Bathtub’ places the sound in proper sci-fi dimensions that diffract into lush hyperspace on ‘Cielo’ and to wickedly evocative use in the scene of plangent ‘Siren Symphony’ at the album’s core.

From here the trip turns darker again with the roiling ‘Retching Sea’, and then contemplative with the gynoid AI dream expression of ‘I Wish I Was’, while ‘Lore’ seems to feel out ritual percussion for a love scene between alien species that eventually culminates if the rugged writhe of ‘Kiss U Here.’ Fuck Stranger Things, just listen to this and make up your own adventure.