沙漠鱿鱼 - 上海／香港 [repress]

A hazy ambient experience through the neon dreampunk streets of beautiful Shanghai and bustling Hong Kong.

Using wet reverb, slowed-down vocals reminiscent of Blade Runner, and dreamy synths, 沙漠鱿鱼 crafted a soundtrack for both Shanghai and Hong Kong. Field recordings of bustling streets anchor the listener in the heart of these metropolises, creating an immersive cityscape experience that’s hard to escape.

The album’s brilliance lies in its skillful layering of these elements. It begins with the calming, optimistic tones of 早上通勤 (Morning Commute), gradually transitioning into the mesmerizing, fluctuating synths of 南京西路 (Nanjing West Road). As Side A unfolds, it dives deeper into an otherworldly dreamscape, finally easing off with 龙之梦购物中心 (Dragon Dream Shopping Center)’s hypnotic slowed-down vocal samples.

Side B maintains the reverb-drenched atmospheres but takes a different approach to capture the shift from Shanghai to Hong Kong. Starting with the energetic and lush sounds of 廟街, 廟街 (Temple Street), the album embraces a new rhythm, fearlessly weaving high-frequency synths into the tapestry of sound. The centerpiece of this side is the 10-minute epic, 太古廣場 (Pacific Place), which seamlessly transitions into a melodic, piano-driven tribute to urban city lights, finding its place within the dreamy production serving as a fitting conclusion.

“‘上海／香港’ by 沙漠鱿鱼 is a sonic adventure that defies categorization, inviting listeners to lose themselves in the enigmatic and evocative soundscapes of two iconic cities.”

• Artist: 沙漠鱿鱼
• Title: 上海／香港
• Genre: Dreampunk, Ambient, Slushwave
• Format: Red/Blue Marbled Vinyl
• Review: Listencorp 
• Only for US customers; EU/ROW please visit hiraethrecords.eu