E Gold feat Alexis – Separate Our Hearts review

The Angular Recordings Corporation have made ripples in the murky waters known as the London music scene since their inception in a South London park back in 2003. The labels first release “The New Cross: An Angular Compilation” – which featured amongst other things the first recorded appearance from Bloc Party – lead to certain media outlets announcing the rise of a so called “New Cross Scene” – cue much look of local bemusement. Subsequent releases included early Klaxons and Long Blondes (RIP) as well the continued nurturing of These New Puritans. It’s the latter’s latest album which has formed something of an Annus mirabilis for Angular.

Along with Hidden (released in conjunction with Domino) Angular were central to the resurgence of interest in Cold Wave, with their compilation Cold Waves & Minimal Electronics Volume One a brilliant retrospective of early 80s cold wave and minimal wave curated in conjunction with Wierd Records founder Pieter Schoolwerth.

Further reason to attach words of glowing praise to Angular Recordings comes in the shape of this release from the mysterious E Gold. “Separate Our Hearts” is a one off collision between the duo and Former Violets vocalist Alexis Mary now of Plus Ultra, with E Gold laying a backdrop of snapping percussion and vintage analogue cold synth gargles upon which Mary’s distinct vocals sit with aplomb.

Keeping things in the family, Plus Ultra band member Chris Flatline slows proceedings down on his Distance Remix giving Mary’s vocals an ethereal hue and adding his own synth flourishes. Tom Furse of the The Horrors puts all the elements through the aural grind, chopping up and relooping extracts and regurgitating them over a snapping drum machine groove which is finally joined by Mary’s vocals around the four minute mark. Finally the hotly tipped Ghost Hunter wraps the vocals in a blanket of fragile and oh so beautiful downbeatisms.

Review: Tony Poland