Lakker return to R&S with their stunning new album; Época. Following 2016’s conceptual 8 track maxi EP “Struggle and Emerge”.
Época is a bracing return to form, combining caustic electronics with fresh inspiration from the prepared piano of John Cage, plaintive folk melodies, the explorative label Sublime Frequencies and the raw rhythms of Kampala’s Nyege Nyege Tapes.
Following a restorative creative break to pursue their own solo projects (as Arad and Eomac) the duo finally returned to the studio, finding themselves working more closely than ever before. “We wrote this record together, in the studio as a duo.” Ian explains “Previous records involved a lot of time working on tracks individually, but Época was written almost entirely together in the studio – it felt much more fun, more organic and democratic.” “We allowed it to happen rather than push or pressure it” Dara adds.
The natural evolution of the tracks and their rougher, looser production sound parallels the duo’s interest in two separate ideas: ambient and natural sound, especially the background noise – a sense of time and place – that is inherent in old recordings of folk and classical music; and an interest in herd dynamics and flock patterns / murmurations, both in the natural world and in human society.
‘Época’ is out on March 15th on 12″ and digital formats.
