As with January Sun, Ariadna is a powerful, instantly memorable work from an exceptional artist.
Ariadna shows a star on the rise to the heart of the worldwide underground.
Ariadna retains the formula that made January Sun so enchanting—slightly austere electro beats, woozy ambient washes, Livanskiy’s own haunting voice, singing in a Russian dialect that (to American idiots) makes it all the more mysterious—and adds the depth and vitality of live analog synths.
Working with classic hardware synths, the Russian musician makes dark, dreamlike techno infused with her ethereal vocals.
There’s still room to grow for the Moscow producer, but she’s already a big step forward: from the harsh Russian winter to the magic of Romanticism, smoothing the rough edges off her peculiar sonic adventure.
#22 | / | Gorilla vs. Bear |