Agor: New album by Koreless

Released earlier this year, Agor is Koreless’ first full-length release and one that does not fail to deliver. The moniker of Lewis Roberts, Koreless is a well-respected producer, composer and performer.

In the past, he has released critically acclaimed EPs Yugen (2013) and TT/Love (2015). It’s been six years since that last single, but he hasn’t been idle, writing and producing with a host of heavyweight musicians, including FKA Twigs and Rita Ora. He has also been touring a stellar show for many years.

Meticulously produced, Agor is the result of an industry stalwart taking his time and putting out something truly complete. The cuts are sharp – borderline glitch – but the chords are emotive and uncompromising. There is an exciting edge coupled with patience in building an atmosphere.

It’s clear this album has been worked and reworked. The pitches, edits, synths and tempos are all on a string, pulled into the stratosphere and back down to earth; he has sonic manipulation down to an art form. Roberts has worked with many notable artists over his career, but with this album, he has established himself amongst them as a preeminent electronic composer.

It is tough to ascribe this music to a particular genre of electronica as Roberts playfully skates between house music, ethereal piano and string conversations, and diced-up percussive interludes. But it works. It is not music to dance to particularly, there is an orchestral approach in a vein similar to Four Tet’s recent tendencies. Roberts is making immersive, rich sounds that wash over your ears in waves. The vocal samples are considered and used sparingly, in parts reminiscent of Burial’s Archangel in their abstraction.

This is an album well worth the wait, and it is a wonderful addition to the ever-evolving landscape of modern electronic music.

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Images: Eloise Parry