Published
Wed, May 4, 2011, 09:00
- A kosmische-inspired LP from the Greek producer's new side project is out on Permanent Vacation.
Permanent Vacation has released the first album by Zodiac Free Arts Club, a side project by 25-year-old Greek producer Argy.
Entitled Floating World, the record was recorded on vintage equipment in Berlin between January and June of last year. It shows Argy completely stepping out of his usual house and tech house remit, focusing instead on atmospheric pieces that draw inspiration from kosmische (or krautrock) bands of the '60s and '70s. Some songs make a nod to ambient pioneers like Klaus Schulze, while others echo avant-rock groups like Neu! (most notably "Sonntags In Altona"). Popol Vuh get an explicit shout out in the final track, "Ein Lied Für Popl Vuh." Argy himself describes the album's sound as "joyful psychedelic underground."
The project takes its name from the Zodiak Free Arts Lab, a short-lived club in West Berlin that was a launching pad for the kosmische movement. Co-founded by Conrad Schnitzler, who later formed the duo Cluster, the venue famously dismissed the conventional song structure as "bourgeois," and provided artists with an arsenal of instruments to experiment as they pleased. In the few months it was open, Zodiak Free Arts Lab hosted groundbreaking performances by the likes of Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel among others.
Tracklist
01. Celephais
02. N.A.O.E.
03. Lindos Express
04. Ordre Du Temple Solaire
05. Sonntags In Altona
06. Meteora
07. Floating World
08. Iridescent Love Triangle
09. Ein Lied Für Popol Vuh
Floating World is currently available on Permanent Vacation.