Debut album from Ivory Fields manages to sound modern even though it was largely recorded a decade ago; RIYL: Psychic TV, Wire

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Ivory Fields has been years in the making,” says Mahadev, (fka Matt Gangi) (GANGI, Fake Estates), one-half of the Los Angeles-based duo which also includes Alejandro Cohen (Pharaohs, Languis.)

Many of the synths and vocals on the record were tracked between 2010 and 2012 in what Mahadev describes as “a slow-burning collaboration.”

This scenario is similar to Mahadev’s other recent release as one-half of GANGI. Somehow, in both cases, it feels right that these compositions have had the time to silently evolve.

In their own words, Ivory Fields “combusts layers of synths, drum machines and guitar over songs composed more around sonic imagery than chord progressions.”

The description is as accurate as it is mysterious. Indeed, the music here often feels like it is both floating just out of grasp, and overwhelming and omnipresent at the same time.

Even so, Mahadev reminds that the record is grounded in a “flare for pop context in its songwriting and production.” Cohen concurs, saying, “Ivory Fields mixes a desire for pop songs, dance production values, and experimental influences.”