A nuanced second album that maintains the fun...
It is essential for electronic music producers to establish a visual identity. Consider Kraftwerk’s robotic minimalism, Autechre’s stark digital artwork, or Daft Punk’s vintage sci-fi outfits. These visual elements serve to contextualize and frame the music. Similar to an art gallery, the ‘meaning’ of the pieces may not be immediately clear; the descriptions alongside them can be as crucial for understanding the art as the pieces themselves.
Edinburgh producer Barry Can’t Swim has excelled at creating a unique, context-building visual identity. His album and single artwork features a wonderfully vibrant color palette; take a look at the primary-colored children’s toys on the cover of his 2023 debut ‘When Will We Land?’, the soft pastel hues of his beautiful 2021 single ‘Jazz Club After Hours’, and the striking, high-contrast image adorning ‘Loner’.
The bright colors and recurring visual themes (colorful children’s toys appear throughout his previous singles) reflect and enhance the music they accompany, which is equally vibrant and inviting, compelling listeners to immerse themselves completely. Following the impressive success of ‘When Will We Land?’, which earned its creator (real name: Joshua Mainnie) nominations for both the Mercury Prize and a BRIT Award, ‘Loner’ feels somewhat like a celebratory victory lap. While Mainnie’s music is consistently euphoric, these 12 tracks particularly exude a festive spirit. Radiating confidence and style, at times, it emerges as a heavier and more intense party album compared to its forerunner. Several tracks have a distinctly late-night vibe, particularly the unabashed drops of ‘About To Begin’ and the fast, bass-heavy techno of ‘Different’.
Yet, beyond these moments, it’s the vibrant, soulful tracks that truly shine. ‘Kimpton’ is a standout; a captivating track reminiscent of Four Tet or Bonobo that feels like experiencing a sunset while on psychedelics. The evocatively named ‘Cars Pass By Like Childhood Sweethearts’ is a warm, uplifting house track, while the equally poetic closing track ‘Wandering Mt. Moon’ offers a beautiful finish, blending Golden Age Hollywood-style strings with stirring yet delicate instrumentation, akin to an impressionist painting. These are the tracks that epitomize Barry Can’t Swim; imaginative and refined pieces as colorful and gently surreal as the creator’s visual style.
A stunning and diverse album that is bound to accompany many summers, ‘Loner’ is an engaging and inventive collection of vibrant dance music, whose many pleasures feel even more impressive for the fact that, like the best parties, it seems to effortlessly radiate joy without trying.
8/10
Words: Tom Morgan
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For electronic music producers, establishing a visual identity is crucial. Consider Kraftwerk’s robotic simplicity and Autechre’s stark, digital album designs.