memotone - Pruning

Format: LP
Catalogue No.: CREP93  
Barcode: 5065004291095
Release Date: 14 Mar 2025
Genre: Fourth World / Soundtrack / Modern / Ambient

On his Discrepant debut memotone aka Bristolian Will Yates collects some unreleased recordings under a most aptly titled name - Pruning - following a healthy stream of releases for such esteemed labels as Black Acre, The Trilogy Tapes or Soda Gong. 

Considering the process of pruning as a practice of selective removal, the album takes its name at face value never falling into a mere collection of tossed off material or random B-side assemblage, making it a cohesive listen throughout its disparate timeframe and evasions. 

A statement about memotone's vision itself, 'pruning' veers closer to his Fourth World/ECM/Exotica meets Sci-fi transmutations in alignment with what would be expected from a memotone release on Discrepant. 'Moss Zone' briefly sets the tone with a warm but queasy synth bedsheet that flows into the 'Weird Figures' cyber-jungle, all small twinkling percussions and rainforest pads slowly rising. 'Riders' brings the synth-flute to an early Warp meets John Hassell's 'City: Works of Fiction' scenario that pops up again in more disrupted form on 'Wisdom [MOTHER]'. 'Not What I Thought's skewed tropical guitar gets going on lo-fi percussion and dissonant synth chords while 'Jim Starling and The Inverse Church' bring to mind 'Autoditacker' era Mouse on Mars going jazz-fusion. Or what we should expect from their Smalltown Supersound stint. 'Beach Scene' is exactly it, as the sun sets into 'Come In [Don't Mind the Ghost]' Summer night's stars with all the allure of Stereolab. Alluring, that's exactly it. Do come in.

Artwork by Evan Crankshaw, Mastered by Rashad Becker

TRACKLIST:
1. Moss Zone
2. Weird Figures
3. Riders
4. Not What I Thought
5. Wisdom (MOTHER)
6. Jim Starling and the Inverse Church
7. Risidual Scum
8. Batty
9. Beach Scene
10. Come in (Don’t Mind the Ghost)