Dexter's Beat Laboratory Vol. 113
Dexter’s Beat Laboratory is a weekly collection of songs from DA managing editor Robyn Dexter. With a taste that can only be described as eclectic — to say nothing of a name that lends itself to punnery — DA is happy to present a selection of tracks personally curated by Dexter for your listening pleasure.
Listen in playlist format here.
Faux Tales‘ latest body of work is a beautiful sight to behold and absorb. Titled Hiraeth, the LP has been in the works for nearly two years. Its nine tracks allow the listener to transcend time and space, taking them on a cinematic, journey-like sonic venture. Faux Tales has a story to tell, and the album takes the listener through the chapters with thought-provoking tracks like “Home.”
Speaking of journeys, Murtagh transforms Dezza‘s “Apollo” in his newest piece of work. Dezza crafted an ethereal original track, full of builds and outer space-inspired dreamy synths. Dezza’s was fully otherworldly, abstaining from a beat or drop, but Irish producer Murtagh seizes his opportunity to introduce them. A steady, unobtrusive beat leads the listener through the song, giving it a bit of a mysterious and almost gloomy feel.
Grum starts his new single, “Tomorrow,” on a bold note, leading with bright, colorful synths and ushering in a deep-pounding bass. Wavy synths announce the entrance of emotive vocals, offsetting the tune’s darker feel with the distinctive singer’s voice. After the middle of the song, the flashy synths are reintroduced, lifting the listener back up before plunging them back into the shadowy, bass-filled instrumentals.
Inukshuk and Trove grab hold of the heartstrings and don’t let go on their new collaboration, “Pull Me In.” The joint effort is delicate and beautiful in both its vocal elements and in its instrumentals. Both aspects of the song manage to dig deep into the listener’s emotions and cradle the parts that are vulnerable and raw. It’s a gorgeous piece of work.
Fox Stevenson fans have been waiting for years upon years for the producer’s debut LP, and it’s finally arrived as of Oct. 18. The majority of the songs have been released as singles over time, but a few—like “Use Me”—arrived with the release of the album. The tune is a fun and creative amalgamation of the artist’s modern sound: pop-leaning with impeccable production and his own endearing vocals.
