Half Grand Label Publishes First VA Record ‘Dead Dreams Don’t Die vol 1’
The four-tracker tastefully lingers between dancefloor bangers and brainy IDM
Electronic music is a broad term that nowadays can define a large scope of genres of music. Often instrumental, the wordless soundscapes can inspire and depict a variety of worlds beyond imagination that words can’t always capture. With that said, Half Grand’s first compilation ‘Dead Dreams Don’t Die vol 1’ works towards capturing this broader definition of electronic music, pushing the music into those types of imaginative realms without sticking to a single genre agenda.
This is the first release for the label and as a whole, it plays like an assemblage of gonzo electronics. But at the same time, the individual tracks are strong. Nimam opens the EP with an ecstatic drum and bass tune which brings to mind the early days of Mike Paradinas’ label Planet Mu - an absolute delight. Up next, Jon Doppler offers up a real banger of a tune. His ‘Feel Like’ consists of rough edged breakbeats dominated by enough heat to make the most jaded raver gurn. However midway through it, it turns on its head and ends on a note of emotion and self-reflective pads.
A Stantz starts the flip with a counterpoint to Nimam’s exuberance, through an acid banger. The drums pound and the synths growl, conjuring visions of isolated drives in the darkest hours of the night. The percussion strips down midway and drops back in a perfect dancefloor action fashion. The last track of the record was apparently created as a combined effort of all the artists on the three previous tracks. It covers a lot of ground, starting spacious and atmospheric before approaching more experimental sound territories that almost sounds like Larry Heard covering Aphex Twin. It’s deep and melancholic and it works.
Jon Doppler, the label founder, has said that he’s interested in seeking new and overlooked talent. And if this is any indication of what the label has up its sleeve, we’re really excited to see what comes next as it seems like Half Grand will explore some of the deepest and most exciting recesses of electronic music.
