London electronic pop duo Sylas, who count Brian Eno as a fan, have put out just two tracks so far, and have a debut EP due next month.
Who
Little is known about Sylas, other than that the duo consists of two men, both producers and vocalists, who came onto the scene with debut track Hollow. Members of the press in Britain were introduced to the group in June, when ambient music champion Brian Eno invited them to his personal London studio to hear some of the duo's material.
Second track Shore got its premiere on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio One show and created a new round of buzz for the Londoners.
Why the buzz
The duo's layered vocals and complex construction are turning heads. First track Hollow was dark with industrial elements, while Shore is more straightforward, melodic pop, albeit with similarly meticulous construction.
The seal of approval from Eno hasn't hurt, although The Fader addresses the subject in a glowing description of Hollow.
"It's all about the way that opening churn goes straight for the gut, the way the beat chokes and snaps during that indecisive 'wait on me/don't wait on me' refrain, the way that angelic voice zooms in and out of view over the chaos. I'd listen to anything if Brian Eno told me to listen to it, but I probably wouldn't listen to a track as many times as I've listened to Hollow unless it was as brilliant a debut as it clearly is."
Scientists Of Sound calls second track Shore "a slow burner of sorts, its subtle build being one of the most gorgeous I've heard in recent times", while Repeat Button says of the same track, "Shore's focus sits on the honesty of the lyrics which flow as smooth as the beats."
What to listen to
The three-song Shore EP is due out Nov 24 on Aesop. In the meantime, find the duo's first two tracks on SoundCloud. In addition to Shore and Hollow, the EP will include Layer featuring Jelani Blackman and Eno. Pre-order it via Aesop.
Where to follow
Sylas remains rather under the radar now, with details on the duo's identities remaining under wraps. For now, you can follow Aesop on Facebook, Twitter (@AesopLabel) or the label's blog.
Source : http://www.thestar.com.my/Lifestyle/Entertainment/Music/News/2014/10/20/Artiste-in-the-spotlight-Sylas
