I think it's fairly clear that I absolutely worship the ground that the tribe collectively known as Gravitonas walk on. I love their approach to marketing their music, their innovative & thought provoking videos, their general sexiness and - of course - the tunes themselves. Never ones to conform to the generally adopted format of single-single-album-single-single, Hyperborea is their fourth EP (following Hypnosis, Coliseum and Black Ceremony) - and this in addition to stand alone singles & hefty remix packages for Kites, Religious, Everybody Dance, Call Your Name & Incredible. PLUS! As if all those goodies weren't enough, they offered their songs up to fans to remix and put out the very satisfying indeed The Fanworks EP. But let's see just how good their latest effort is...
It all kicks off with the very good indeed (incredible?) Incredible. It starts off with some insistent, repetitive piano chords that act as the perfect frame for Andreas' rock-infused vocal. Electrifying guitar riffs, soaring synths and elegant orchestral arrangements are layered to the track as a percussive beat propels it towards the impassioned chorus. It then explodes into a decisive, swirling rave-esque track, expertly marrying the rock with the rave, the earnest passion of Andreas' voice with the dance. It's exquisitely done and wonderfully executed. This is followed by Love Hurts (not a Cher cover) where Kallay-Saunders Andras joins the tribe and makes a worthy addition. A haunting, mesmerising instrumental is matched by vocals that breathe into existence to match the almost supernatural aura of the song - the chorus stands out due to an emphatic, precise beat vaguely reminiscent of the gorgeous Life In Mono. Tinkling piano cascades in a fragile moment at the end of the middle 8, representing the oh so delicate balance of love before it turns into crushing, devastating pain. Simple, beautiful, honest (be sure to also check out the much more sparse, electro-fuelled remix by Jake Oh - like a raw, persistent heartbeat urging the song forward). Desert Sky is an instantly pulsating, throbbing dance tune that attacks the harder elements of club euphoria rather than approaching it with a pop sheen. It vividly creates an atmosphere that compels you to lose your inhibitions and succumb to the seductive nature of the desert sky they sing about. Borderline, alongside Incredible, is the most 'single-ready' song on here - instantly memorable, effortlessly engaging and oh so very Alexander Bard. Tremendous vocal from Andreas & fuzzy glomwobble style synth effects giving the song a frisson of excitement. There's a very euphoric feel to the lyrics as the message of a better intellectual world flows through the music. 4 amazing new songs that added to the Black Ceremony EP create one of the best collections of tunes I've heard this year...
(There are also two remakes of previous Gravitonas faves on Hyperborea. The heavenly You Break Me Up becomes Break Me Up as Rebstar adds some rap realness to the shuffling beat & electric guitar. It feels a little jarring at first, but actually works really well - and could be the anti-Christmas single needed by England this year for a non-festive festive number one! Meanwhile, Realm Of The Senses becomes See Me, Hear Me, Feel Me, Touch Me. It's another Rebstar rap remix of their well known tunes and is much more experimental than Break Me Up but ultimately just as satisfying).
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