ANiML - Star Walk LP BUY LINK: https://www.beatport.com/release/star-walk/4921661 Label : Stratasonic (https://soundcloud.com/animl-music) https://www.instagram.com/stratasonic_records/ > ANiML (https://soundcloud.com/animl-music) https://www.instagram.com/con_nectch The anonymous German/Canadian ANiML collective has deep roots in electronic music and the many associated sub-genres. They started Stratasonic as a way of collaborating with legends old and new without any musical boundaries. Following the inaugural single 'Accidental Effects' and subsequent ‘Breather’ EP, they now return with ‘Star Wal’k, a comprehensive deep dive into their sound and a sublime showcase of their rich musical talents. The mini-album reimagines the music, masters and methods that have most influenced ANiML. It's a deeply collaborative work with a sense of improvisation and off-the-cuff expression as it collides disparate moods and grooves into alluring new forms. The intriguing 'Breather' kicks off with broken beats and rhythmic synth pulses that bounce about the mix. Haunted pads swirl in the background to make for a trippy voyage into the unknown, where heartfelt chords await. The brilliant 'Bruv' switches things up with live-sounding drums and chords so expressive you can almost see the player hunched over the keys and speaking directly from the soul. Breathy vocalisations and warped double bass complete this moody, intimate groove. 'Titles' sinks you deep into a swaggering late-night dub. It's a woozy vibe with distant reggae riffs and aching keys that make a lasting impression on your heart. There's a downbeat feel to the lurching drums of 'Cherry' that's contrasted by gorgeous guitar lines. They ring out into a starry night sky and evoke a psyched-out campfire session. 'Baby D' has a delightfully innocent and naive charm thanks to soft-focus xylophones bubbling up through louche, loose drums and squeaky-fingered guitar frets. It's a stoned, cosy sound marbled with intimate vocals and steamy soul. Finally, the profound yet tranquil 'Star Walk' again heads outdoors, lays horizontally on the ground and gazes off to infinity. Grand, sweeping, slow-motion prog licks arc up to the heavens and soundtrack a peaceful passage to the afterlife.