Kedr Livanskiy - Ariadna [2MR 029 Promo]

Released in early September via the 2MR imprint is Kedr Livanskiy's debut album "Ariadna", crafted by the Moscow-based artist Yana Kedrina using her artistic nom de guerre to cater an array of ten tracks both inspired by her own urban environment as well as mythological thoughts and 80s electronic pioneers from Russia. Starting with the album's title track "Ariadna" a new sonic world opens up comprised of dreamlike (Neo)Cosmic, Electro and ethereal, Pop-infused vocals whereas the follow up "Sunrise Stop" brings on all embracing organic bass waves and a decent 4/4 drum layer as foundation for Kedr Livanskiy's voice driven journey into deep retrofuturistic space. Drawing more influences from the Space Age - and ItaloDisco of sorts - is "Your Name", a highly seductive tune which might be referred to as the albums hit single, "Mermaid" provides a floating, beatless approach to (Neo)Cosmic and "ACDC" featuring Martin Newell on vocal duties presents more of a mystical, spiralling Spoken Word vibe before raving Electro beats and oldskool'ish Breakbeats send punters to new ecstatic heavens. With "Za Oknom Vesna" Kedr Livanskiy's vocal approach meets proper, slightly trancey Detroit Techno for the first time, "Love & Cigarettes" combines heartfelt, deep ass melancholia with driving Electro vibes again before the "Sad One" contributes a concluding beautiful, naturalistic tale of Synth Ambient to the albums story. Furthermore we see the digital bonus track "Fire & Water" weigh in a slightly tribalistic approach to vocal driven Intelligent Techno as well as massive dancefloor potential and the vinyl exclusive "Sunset" unveils the most touching, widescreen panorama SloMo Synth Techno we've come across in quite a while. Great stuff. Highly recommended.