UMFANG - Symbolic Use Of Light

https://umfang.bandcamp.com/album/symbolic-use-of-light

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UMFANG will make her debut on Ninja Tune's Technicolour imprint with “Symbolic Use Of Light” on 16th June 2017. Previously sharing her analogue-based rhythmic excursions via videogamemusic, 1080p, Phinery and Allergy Season, the New Yorker is a co-founder of Brooklyn’s colossal Discwoman crew and resident at Bossa Nova Civic Club’s Technofeminism monthly. 

She does not like to intellectualise her art, describing her process - recording tracks in live takes - as being rooted in catharsis, release and improvisation rather than any identifiable high-art aim: “I want people to know that it’s accessible and that I taught myself and that you can learn too.” Still, one can understand why critics seek to ascribe this animus to her work, as she brings a refreshing sonic signature to the form, remarked upon by Actress who recently invited her to record a mix for his co-host radio show with Benji B on BBC Radio 1 / 1Xtra: “It’s techno, but she’s got these very subtle different ways of starting a track and transitioning from one idea to another – which is exactly what techno is about”. 

Her equipment - a couple of Boss DR 202s in the main, but also an x0xb0x and Korg Volca FM synth for the occasional “alien noise” - was the medium to record album tracks in live takes, with minimal post-production “only for quick corrections”. Nor was the record made with an album narrative in mind - tracks are a mix of old and new, produced in batches distinct to her frame of mind at the time of recording. “My process is really about sitting down and seeing what happens - it becomes a time-capsule of whatever works from that time period,” she explains.

Really enjoying this so far, nice mellow & moody tracks. Sad I wasn't able to see her when she was in town recently. 

This is really good... Didn't really know anything about her but stumbled across the album and its blown me away, really interesting unique take on Techno 

  On 7/17/2017 at 2:03 PM, kirm said:

This is really good... Didn't really know anything about her but stumbled across the album and its blown me away, really interesting unique take on Techno

Right? I keep coming back to it, it's hypnotic.