Headed by enigmatic young composer Poppo Redband, and featuring some of the most talented musicians in the New York metropolitan area, the musical collective Elektragaaz offers a bewitching medley of electronic music blended into compelling immersive soundscapes.
The group definitely colors outside the lines, drawing on far-flung influences such as jazz fusion, hip-hop, progressive rock, club, techno, pop, dance, film noir, and even classical music for a wholly-unique result. Their recordings to date have been called "masterful and original," "mesmerizing," "ground breaking," "magic," and works of "musical genius." One reviewer opined that "Elektragaaz has reinvigorated and redefined instrumental music,” while another commentator suggested that the music "transports you the moment you press play."
In addition to Redband, major contributors to Elektragaaz include Kathy Sheppard on keyboards, Kate Amrine on brass, Tom McCaffrey on electric guitar, Jasper Dutz on woodwinds, Josh Henderson on strings and Mat Muntz on bass. The EP additionally features Michael Suke Cerulo on electric guitar, Lisa Dowling on electric and double bass, and Mike Nolan on steel guitar. Kino Chatoyant was produced by Trebor Lloyd and mixed/mastered at Engine Room Audio in New York City.
The EP kicks off with the explosive “We May Die But We Will Not Rust,” featuring keyboards spread out all around the listener. Electric guitar takes up the right height channels, soon answered by saxophone highlights up high on the left. From there, the band shifts gears into the spacey “Flying Underwater.” Steel guitar and strings appear largely overhead, while the rhythm section holds down the front stage.
Electric guitar slides from the rear to front heights for “Phil Gumm’s Progress,” with timpani drums and percussion surrounding the listener from below. Keyboards again take the rear, leaving the bass guitar mostly isolated in the center channel. Closing the EP is a new Elektragaaz piece, the impressionistic and evocative “The Feeling Comes By Night.” Chimes and woodwinds dance overhead, with piano in the rear and the rhythm section upfront.
Though the album will be available to stream in Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal, the best way to experience Kino Chatoyant for audiophiles would undoubtedly be the Dolby TrueHD/Atmos MKV files sold exclusively via IAA’s online shop. The Dolby Atmos mix makes full use of the immersive landscape, with distinct elements positioned in all twelve channels of a 7.1.4 setup. This compelling new music, with its sound fully-rooted in spatial technology, simply has to be heard to be believed.
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