After the announcement of the Emerge From Smoke seven-inch and the dramatic, glitch-heavy track of the same name last month, it was only a matter of time before Shlohmo returned with a brand-new full-length. This morning, Henry Laufer dropped the news of his sophomore album Dark Red, and released a fresh single to mark the occasion.
“Buried” is a seven-minute sonic experience; more melodic than Shlohmo’s most-recently released track, but just as thought-provoking. Mix together the cold and calculated sound of deep synths and drum machines, a quickly building tempo, and an eerie crescendo to make Dark Red‘s lead single. Throw in one part Twin Peaks score to truly understand the mesmerizing, and slightly terrifying quality of the track. The clashing sounds and somber tone is something that Laufer recognizes throughout the upcoming album:
When I started working on Dark Red about two and a half years ago, I had just moved back to LA and built a small studio in my apartment, mostly with my dad’s old gear from the 80s. I had just lost some people close to me and was dealing with another loved one’s health issues. I was all over the place mentally, and I think it reflects in this record whether I like it or not. The only thing I did know going into it, was that I wanted this one to be loud, and not just loud but really really f***ing loud. I wanted the sound of the thing to be devastating and violent. Recordings that force you to feel something even if that something isn’t good. I’m proud to have made something polarizing, a record that’s strong and undeniable even in its moments of pure anxiety and confusion. It’s tragic and painful at times, but that’s all part of it and I want that to be heard and felt. You don’t have to like it, just listen to it.
Check out Dark Red‘s tracklist below, and look for when Laufer will be coming through your town on his first full tour here.
Dark Red Tracklisting
1. Ten Days of Falling
2. Meet Ur Maker
3. Buried
4. Emerge From Smoke
5. Slow Descent
6. Apathy
7. Relentless
8. Ditch
9. Remains
10. Fading
11. Beams
