London based electronic marvel Kel McKeown – aka Kelpe – celebrates ten years of sonic boundary pushing with new new LP ‘Fourth: The Golden Eagle’ on brand new label, DRUT.
Setting to work with a selection of analogue synths – Moog, Korg Polysix, Korg MS10 and Doepfer Dark Energy – the Ableton aficionado and purveyor of warped, cut ‘n’ spliced cliq-hop beats has delivered a handcrafted, 10-track masterpiece of an album which draws upon the strengths of his previous three. It’s softer, warmer and more graceful than 2009’s ‘Cambio Wechsel’, with a strong melodic element, and one which will secure his place in the canon of post-IDM greats.
This five track LP sampler includes rollicking opener and curveball ‘Astrolomy’, which brings to mind the mesmeric Anatolian guitar of ‘After Gold’ – a standout track on ‘Cambio Wechsel’. It’s followed by the lush, soulful, heavenly Baths-esque future pop of ‘Beaks of Eagles’ – with gloopy synths, hollowed beats and obfuscated crowd chatter. Also included in the taster is ‘Go Visible’, which calls to mind Dabrye and Syclops, and the minimal, glitchy cut ‘Outwhere’.
Trailing the live circuit from California to Lithuania alongside diverse acts such as Aphex Twin, Ghostpoet, Squarepusher and Daedelus, Kelpe has made a name for himself both a a solo act and as a duo with longtime collaborator Chris Walmsley on drums (Gruff Rhys, Neon Neon, Psapp).
