HOWLING Vinyl & CDs

Review: Colure is the second album from Howling. Of course, it is a duo made up of singer songwriter RY X, real name Ry Cuming, and a member of The Acid, and Frank Wiedemann, most famous for being half of Ama and part of the Innervisions crew. One again the pair merge acoustic and electronic instrumentation into lush new soundtracks, with lead single "Bind" already out there and being well received. It features a striking vocal which continues their already well honed style, which start with 2015's Sacred Ground. Retro yet futuristic, it is another richly rewarding work.

Review: The key to Howling's success - musically, at least - most certainly lies in the disparate musical backgrounds of its two members: folk-loving, soft-voiced singer-songwriter RY X and producer, label owner and Ame founder member Frank Wiedemann. It's this unlikely blend of the acoustic and electronic - the worlds of soft-focus, heart-aching folk-pop and tech-tinged, underground club culture in surprise unison - that makes the duo's work so intriguing. These hybrid sounds are all over second album "Colure", a heady and evocative set that smartly combines hypnotic tech-house rhythms, minor key electronics and rugged TB-303 acid motifs - with swelling chords and RY X's tactile, emotive and often harmoniously layered vocals. Like its predecessor, it's well worth a listen.