Konx-om-Pax's first two albums for
Planet Mu moved from amorphous ambient abstractions (Regional Surrealism) to bright yet half-dissolved rave nostalgia (Caramel). With Ways of Seeing, producer/graphic designer Tom Scholefield places a greater focus on beats and melodies, yet his music remains just as dreamy as it was before. Scholefield recorded Ways of Seeing after relocating from his hometown of Glasgow to Berlin, and while the album is certainly his most techno-influenced release yet, it sounds nothing like the sort of dark, paranoid techno one might associate with the city. Instead, it's joyous and even beach-ready, exuding warmth through hazy, lo-fi textures. Part of the album was recorded in Los Angeles while Scholefield was hanging out with
Hudson Mohawke and Lunice, and there's a somewhat sinister but still carefree vibe to opening track "LA Melody" and a handful of other trap-influenced cuts. While much of Caramel hinted at the ecstasy of rave music without reaching a climax, Ways of Seeing mainly consists of more fully committed dance tracks, although these still don't conform to conventional structures. "Paris 5AM" fades in with mellow, dubby synth washes, thumping beats, and sampled bird calls, establishing a tranquil mood and making no attempt to escape it. "Optimism Over Despair" is significantly more ambitious, starting out with staccato synth riffs and a stuttering beat, which eventually straightens out as vaguely trancey melodies develop, with choppy breakbeats elevating the atmosphere as the track escalates. "Earthly Delights" almost seems like the dark twin of "Paris 5AM," structured similarly but conveying a much more subdued feeling. "Missing Something" hints at progressive house, with ringing melodies and a subtle sense of transportation, but it keeps things relatively stripped back, rather than shooting for a grandiose epic. Recalling earlier
Konx-om-Pax releases, final piece "The Paleontologist" cloaks a misty new age melody in foggy, distorted bass. With his third album, Scholefield continues to fade light into dark, but this time there's a much stronger heartbeat. ~ Paul Simpson