This is one of those rare occasions where I can’t draw from a bag of artists to compare to because this one happens to be a cannonball of everything that embodies the now, which ironically means a unique composite of nostalgia and digital manipulation. Ladies and gents, the Mozart of bedroom synths and electro, I give you Fortune Howl.
Some of Fortune Howl’s, AKA Bryce Linde’s work can be placed among someone like multi-media artist and 21st century recyclist Cory Arcangel, while some is somewhere in between The Chemical Brothers and Washed Out. The influence of Boards Of Canada and Flying Lotus is evident, though not outwardly. It sounds like positively sheltered electronic music, and by that I mean in the way that someone like Björk (“Distances”) is sheltered – where the influence of yourself accomplishes the impossible task of overshadowing the influence of your idols. There’s a playfulness that teeters on darkness in Fortune Howl’s music – though it maintains this open curiosity and (“Snowsun”) naïvety and often crosses into trip-hop (“Space Squid”). And most of all, it’s exciting how much he is producing.
Linde creates electronic lullabies out of his home studio in Orlando, Florida that mix chilled, down-tempo flavors with the punch of dub-step that we have been seeing a lot of lately in the form of James Blake. This is what a super-charged Jon Brion with a home studio and an interest in dub step might sound like. Oh, and did I mention he is 17 years old? I don’t want to dwell on it, but it’s really remarkable and works to his advantage. Linde’s expanding exploration through record collecting and experience as a bassist nestle the curiosity that is found in his music. Minimalist and sometimes ambient sounds seemingly are at the forefront, but from track to track, the real focus varies. Whether it’s a crazy pulsating beat or a delicate piano sample (“For A Friend”), the main focus of the songs is always under a veil and this experimental edge is what keeps it interesting (“Gravity Well” - David Byrne and Brian Eno, are you listening?)
Yet despite the wonderful experimental quality, Linde could easily take on a pop song and no doubt get the dance floor moving, as in ’70s-esque “Starscream Jestream” and ethereally fun “Crack In The Stream”.
Fortune Howl has two full albums – “Voodoo Pharmacology” and “You Can Stay” - out now on Relief In Abstract Records, which you can listen to in full. You can find and download some of my favorite tracks below.
Connect with Fortune Howl – Label Page | Bandcamp | Facebook | Soundcloud | Twitter
Fortune Howl – “Space Squid”
Fortune Howl – “Starscream Jetstream”
Fortune Howl – “Distances”
Fortune Howl – “Crack In The Earth”
Fortune Howl – “Gravity Well”
Fortune Howl – “Snowsun”
Fortune Howl – “Composite Life”
