A Taut Line - Loss [CD]

Diskotopia

£8.10

Format: CD
Catalogue No.: DSK063
Barcode: 5050580790629
Release Date: 16 Sep 2022
Genre: Dance

01: Manada - A Taut Line
02: Roses Bled Grey - A Taut Line
03: Opaque State - A Taut Line
04: Is It Creation - A Taut Line
05: Loss - A Taut Line
06: Life Force (feat. Chocola B) - A Taut Line
07: The Scape I Float - A Taut Line
08: Hydrangea - A Taut Line
09: Inflex - A Taut Line
10: Tableau - A Taut Line
11: Brittle Ikari - A Taut Line
12: We All Fuel - A Taut Line

Tokyo-based label Diskotopia co-founder Matt Lyne returns as A Taut Line for his first solo full-length in over five years. A Taut Line is the principal of numerous monikers that Lyne releases under, his other most prominent being Greeen Linez, a collaboration with long-term musical partner Christopher Greenberg.

Loss, the fourth album as A Taut Line, is a deep and polyamorous tour de force that expands and harnesses the explorations of 2017's critically acclaimed album Distraction Provisions into an even tighter and more refined sonic narrative.

Elements of acid house, dub techno, trip-hop, and jungle are pulled apart and smashed together again in a post-punk approach, creating a humid and disorientating fourth-world expanse that has become the A Taut Line trademark sound. There's a clear nostalgic influence across the 12 tracks – particularly drawn from the musical heritage of Lyne's birth town Bristol - but the album never feels revivalist or paint-by-numbers, as the touchstones that A Taut Line has mined from his youth are filtered through his 17+ years experience living in Japan and then juxtaposed in a fresh- and forward-looking manner.

A central pillar runs through all the tracks, even as they shapeshift across a multitude of sounds and genres. Reoccurring motifs like Lyne's use of lush yet decaying pads and — for the first time — his own voice provide a sense of consistency, while the intramural theme of loss that gives the album its title, lays down a strong contextual purpose.

Highlights on Loss include Life Force, a love song to 90s Major Force & Mo' Wax output, featuring Japanese singer Chocola B, Is It Creation, a no-wave avant-funk spoken word electro track with original lyrics penned by contemporary writer Thomas Kendall, and the beautiful yet heartbreaking Balearic-ambient nocturne Tableau.

Mastered by Lurka

“Nice stuff as always. Enjoyed Hydrangea the most on first listen. 5 stars.”
Mr Beatnick — NTS Radio

“Excellent work! I can sink in this one indefinitely. The textures and compositions are ACE.”
SeekersInternational — Bokeh Versions, NoCorner, etc.

“Feeling this.. vibes”
Coco Bryce —

“Great moments throughout”
dBridge — Exit Records

“such a lush journey thank u. 5 stars.”
GiGi FM —

“This release is a whole world of excellence. I love the groove of Is It Creation, how do you even define this LP?! Congrats. Five Stars.”
Steph Smith — Raw Silk

“Real nice rhythmically diverse album”
Michael Leuffen — Carhartt WIP Music

“Sounds great”
Danilelle — NTS

“A Taut Line is a fav”
Ciel — Rinse

“Well good!!! lush and deep. love the drum programming super varied”
Jaye Ward — PLU Bristol