Morr Music brings another lovely indietronic lullaby when it combines artists Populous and Short Stories on Drawn in Basic. The Berlin-based label has established itself with Casio-toned tunes from across Europe, including Lecce, Italy’s Andrea Mangia, as Populous. Now, in his third Morr release, Mangia collaborates with Michael McGuire – a.k.a. MC Short Stories – and gets higher and finer with Drawn in Basic.
While opener “Test Your Dreams” twinkles awake the listener, and finisher “Heaven Knows” wafts away atmospherically, Drawn in Basic mostly flows in and out, track-to-track, with numerous instrumental interludes in between (beefing up the track list all the way to sixteen). That does make it a bit difficult to find a stand out number – or a swing and a miss. Instead, it just keeps a steady enchantment, beginning to end.
There still is some variety outside “Dreams” and “Heaven”. Early number “Porcelain” is a strong ‘The City That Sleeps’ piece, while later track “Breathes the Best” is more removed and fuzzy. High effects are particularly strong on “The Holy See”, “Man Overboard”, and “Faithful”, while the pretty “Bear Arms” has almost incongruously ominous lyrics. Amongst the short instrumentals, the best are earliest on, such the grander “Days” and sweet synth “Royal Gold”; as the record plays on, these interstitials become a little forgettable.
In comparison with Populous’ last, 2005’s Queue for Love, Mangia seems to have borrowed from label mates Electric President lighter touch. While not as ultra-fine as President’s soft song to slumber Sleep Well (QRO review), Drawn in Basic still leads with its silky carry.
