ROTOR+ - Aileron

After a few quiet months on the Statra front, the New York label is being revived with the release of a couple of 12” and the first album by New Zealand Rotor+. Not totally unknown down under, the mind behind Rotor+ has released a few 12” under different identities, as well as a trance-inspired album under his Epsilon-Blue alter ego. Rotor+ is an altogether complete different project.
Aileron is inspired by the diverse landscapes of Rotor+’s native New Zealand. Built around three tracks between fifteen and twenty-two minutes long, and divided into fourteen different parts, the album explores the darkest electronica, by means of multiple concentric patterns, evoking in turn Biosphere, Autechre or contemporary classical music. The first impression is one of total quietude as Beginning – Something To Do While Driving evolves almost imperceptibly in and out of surprisingly familiar territories, the different sections of the track leaving the previous one behind, sometimes to the favour of a deliberate break. However, rarely a clear cut appears, and the song progresses gently. Middle – Thinking Of Changing The Rectangle To A Less Regular Shape kicks in with a more abrupt beat, as Rotor+ studies slightly more abrasive sounds. The presence of a clear piano adds to the sense of humanity already experienced in Beginning. 174° 45.7’ E 36° 51.5 S and Box +s+ SH1 3am Rm 4 accentuate the pace a little, building up slowly on clicks and earthy melodies, similar to the ones heard on Black Dog’s Bytes. The fragmentation of this second track is actually more obvious, as the segments are somehow detached from each other. Aileron (N2F1JF), which opens End – Mapping The World, and Background Environmental Sounds retreat into glacial lands, with no proper movement to be clearly identified. Reel To Reel and Religious Society Of Friends slowly bring the album back to life with an ultimate injection of organic beats. To prolong the experience, Aileron includes two video tracks, and comes in a 32-page bound hardcover book.
Aileron is a strangely fascinating record, as it moves peacefully within electronic soundscapes. Rotor+ proves to be one of the most interesting acts to emerge for some time, and this first album is absolutely unforgettable.