No one can deny we’re living during a very exciting period in history, especially for music. Carrying the collective torch that’s helping push music forward are Jason Letkiewics, aka Steve Summers, and his girlfriend Aurora Halal. The pair has just released their sophomore album, “Mutual Dreaming”, as Innergaze on Minimal Wave sub label Cititrax. This is their first release since last year’s “Shadow Disco” on 100% Silk and neither of them has been standing still in the time between; Summer’s put out a late night, urban house cut on L.I.E.S. as well as a release on Construction Paper. As for Halal, she’s been busy as ever with her Mutual Dreaming parties. Building on top of the synth heavy nature of “We Are Strange Loops” their latest album seems like a natural progression.
Stream: Innergaze – Mutual Dreaming (Cititrax)
The entire album is washed in classic Chicago sounds like the 707, but also has an untamed, anything goes element to it. There’s no one specific genre that the album adheres to and we love that. It pushes constantly evolving and lively elements that by the end of a track are sometimes unrecognizable. Unsurprisingly the sound of Summers penetrates to the core of the music, as some of the gear used in his solo work is so distinct. We think it’s safe to the say the jam sessions between the two are producing some interesting results. Above all each track seems to be a give and take effort creating something completely unique to the duo.
Tracks such as the opener “Mutual Dreaming” let you know just how serious they are. No games, no intros, within 30 seconds the track is rolling with repetitive buzz saw bass combined with the chaos of white & hoover noises along with some sort of chant-like vocal. Sonically it’s pushed to a point where it almost overflows, but just as it reaches that peak it’s always brought down a notch. It’s definitely one of the album’s standouts. There’s also “Autumn”, which turns out to be a lofty electro tune that bounces between elements extremely well. One moment you’re being hypnotized by polyrhythms and the next spacey pads are at the center. It all sounds so effortless and perfectly timed. It’s music for a quick joyride up the coast in the middle of the night or while gazing at the stars on some disserted beach. The vocal effects on tracks like “In Your Gaze” bring an outsider and cosmic vibe to the music; it helps that the tracks are saturated in so many sounds that characterized a lot of ’80s wannabe future music.
Stream: Innergaze – Is This Your Love (Cititrax)
“Mutual Dreaming” is one of those records to keep on hand for spur of the moment getaways. Ideally, they shouldn’t be too long as the entire 8-track album clocks in at just over 30-minutes long. There are some brilliant jams on here that progression nicely over their three to five minute courses and you may easily find yourself lost in your own little world. Letkiewics and Halal are pushing the gritty analogue sound to brink and we love it. One of our few gripes is the length, a few more tracks would have been ideal, but oh well.
Innergaze’s “Mutual Dreaming” is out now on Cititrax.
