Released on:
Dead Cities
Runtime: 5:39
Picking up on the melodic themes of ‘Dead Cities‘, ‘Her Face Forms in Summertime’ goes even further, opening with an almost summery shimmering guitar line. From the opening chord, the tune becomes more wistful, defining the idea of “euphoric sadness” Garry would use in years to come. Cymbals ring gentle in the background, and an acoustic bass loop comes in. Digital noise in the background keeps it from sounding too ‘live’, but as the gently rolling breakbeat starts, this could really be a band playing, rather than a piece of electronic music. Sweeping filters and strange cup-up moments keep what could be a fairly straight-forward drum track in line with the first two pieces on the album, somewhere between trip-hop and IDM. As the guitar and bass cut out, a carpet of ambient synths creeps in. Synth squelches and bleeps, tinkling bells and choir samples are gradually overlaid in more traditional FSOL style, giving the piece a lush, warm texture. Eventually everything fades out other than the ambience for the closing environment, which builds up with oddly filtered sounds, metallic percussion and randomly triggered notes on a buzzing synth, prefacing the next track. Elements of this closing environment would later go on to be used on the ‘We Have Explosive’ single.
‘Her Face Forms in Summertime’ is an utterly gorgeous track, warm yet sad, a superb example of the bright, beautiful layer underlying Dead Cities.
Credits
Written and produced by The Future Sound of London.
Recorded at Earthbeat Studios, London ’96.
Engineered by Yage.
Fractional Difference 