Xafran’s debut EP is a resplendent and vibrant announcement of what this DC based producer and artist plans to bring. The shiny synth work is gleaming through each of the four pieces, but there’s a marked uniqueness to the arrangement and melodies that he brings to life on ‘Find A Way’. A definitively experimental electronic endeavour, the record treads perfectly along the lines of what makes subtle and down-tempo electronic music so engaging. Never rising to immense noise or stupendously loud heights, it makes its mark through subtle sonic elements, unique vocal processing, and a strangely nostalgic underbelly that lends the entire record a depth of feeling that’s difficult to come by.
Opening with the titular track, Xafran sends you down a rabbit hole of an electronic maze that’s exquisitely luscious and almost glowing throughout. The overly processed vocals might at first feel jarring, but they soon become one of the most endearing and catchy elements. It’s hard to put into words the exact nature of the sonic melodies on this record, which range from the absurdist and wacky to the much more mellow and mellifluous, but they’re layered so dexterously over one another that you find yourself slept away by the technique behind it all. The simultaneously faint yet defiant cry of ‘to the other side’ becomes such a radiant battle cry by the end of it all. ‘Feeling Cold About It’ is slightly more in line with a traditional mellow electronic piece, building with gradual fervour and intention but never really rising to outlandish heights. The vocals are much cleaner and the production is decidedly more modern here without a doubt. Then you’ve got tropical vibes for days on the effortlessly lackadaisical and laidback chilled vibes of ‘Running Ouut of Daylight’. It’s the kind of track that you just find yourself lying back to enjoy. On the EP’s closer, Xafran finds a retro finish that really delves and doubles down into its pomp and glamorous 80s influence.
A truly mesmerising and intricate electronic pop record that has you entirely swept away, Xafran’s debut is a sign of brilliance to come.