Antipole is Trondheim-based Karl Morten Dahl, along with regular co-conspirators, the Brighton-based producer Paris Alexander, and vocalist Eirene. Just like those previous releases, Radial Glare is an intoxicating journey into the netherworlds of dark melodic coldwave, only this time around, the vocal palate is expanded to include a couple of tracks featuring Marc Lewis, who may (or may not) be better known for his work with post-punk outfit, The Snake Corps.
Radial Glare consists of 11 tracks, clocking in at just a few ticks over 45 minutes, and it’s a thoroughly absorbing listen from start to finish, with Dahl’s signature guitar style and careful exploitation of repetition being key to the album’s wonderfully hypnotic flow and wider feel.
Icy keys/glacial synths add depth and texture, every track dripping with a weighty darkness and brooding atmosphere, and naturally Eirene’s often ethereal vocal – both orthodox and when buried deeper in the mix – only adds to this general sense of unease.
Much of Alexander and Dahl’s production work is quite remarkable, and there are moments which hint at references to the work of the great Martin Hannett (Joy Division, New Order, many others) for the way the music is allowed to breathe, its use of space, its uncluttered melancholic vibe, and the notion that quite often, less is actually more.
I won’t single out highlights because everything here exists as part of a greater whole, there’s no filler, and after many listens over the past fortnight or so, Radial Glare has truly taken on a life of its own.
Here’s 'Syndrome' featuring Paris Alexander:
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