Sound Colour Vibration (Music | Art | Film)

“You can’t judge a book by its cover”, the old saying goes, however in an interview visual artist Sonny Kay once said that he “literally grew up judging records by their covers”. Album artwork has the potential to say so much about a record and the cover art for Dimlite’s newest record Grimm Reality says you’re in for one hell of a ride. The figure of a contrasted black and white leafless tree sprouting out of a mans neck is at the center with images of an umbrella, fish and a skeletal hand with an umbrella attached to it. These elements are layered atop one another, protruding into each other while breaking the boundaries between the tiles of color beneath them. Thus, leaving some parts of the images obscured and others revealed. All of this takes place on background composed of 5 contrasted colors, colors that I would like to add, compliment each other. It should be noted for further use in analyzing this album that complimentary colors are opposite to each other on the color theory wheel. When the chemicals assigned to two opposite colors are released into the brain it causes a stimulation that allows us to both enjoy sunsets as well as experience the angst behind Edvard Munchs famous painting The Scream. All the elements in the artwork, from the images to the colors used, all display a contrast to one another yet layer and interlock together for one unique and stimulating piece. This concept of layered juxtaposition is what pervades this album and makes it so unique. Dimlites main source of the musical contrast exhibited by Grimm Reality comes from the Swiss producers bipolar approach to music. In Grimm Reality, Dimlite brings together the personalities of electronic producer Misel Quinto, and rock/folk group Slapped Eyeballers. Throughout the album, those personalities coexist and interact while complimenting and opposing each other in cycles.

The first track “You Very Rich Believer” begins with an ethereal sonic opening. Pads and synthesizers make up the chorus of dissonant harmony that then break into a bright synth pop track. The original opening still lurks in as the background is resampled and run through a gate effect while the drums, percussive sounds and synths layer and dance with each other on top. Immediately the album turns and breaks into the next and what is a much darker track than the first, “Pour Some Blood, We Got This”. Driven by a jarring drum beat and an almost inharmonious array of samples, there is eerie voice that gives the track an almost drunken lumbering movement. Much of music is focused upon the colors and emotions expressible by stable consonant harmony in the western idiom, but that is only one facet and origin of music and art in general. Unfortunately the other face of art is often ignored because for many it is less pleasant, appealing, or digestible, much like the grim realities of our experiences and within ourselves that we would much rather leave ignored. The track “Pour Some Blood, We Got This” intentionally uses these dissonant properties and juxtaposition to express what might not be expressible otherwise. It is a powerful theme and exist throughout the record Grimm Reality. The album isn’t entirely composed of these darker elements however. One of the most striking parts of Grimm Reality are the moments when all the seemingly chaotic and opposing sounds release the tension holding awkwardly pushing against each other and all fall into place, meshing together to build a beautiful harmony and symphonic bliss.

There is a galactic deviance in sound all over Grimm Reality, with what feels like the power of the sun casting out waves of energy for 100′s of thousands of miles in every direction. Dimitri Grimm or who most know as Dimlite has been making records for almost a decade now and it feels like this Swedish producer is just beginning on a very fruitful and illustrious path with the introduction of Grimm Reality to the world. When holding the vinyl of his latest offering Grimm Reality, there is an over bearing sense of artistic achievement with the packaging and the way the album slips off that visual impact from the initial state of audible contact. Abstract music and pop are becoming one and Dimlite’s Grimm Reality is one of the highest achievements of this balance for us at Sound Colour Vibration. By the time we were half way through the album and the piece ‘XY’ had entered the speakers, the bliss and beauty that reverberated made us fall in love with the record instantly. Natural sounding drums, a beautiful synth melody that rides the beat and a gorgeous set of overtones that swirl in and around the mix, this is one of the most light filled Dimlite songs to date.

Now-Again Records and Stones Throw Records have teamed together to present Grimm Reality in a superb vinyl run of 3×10 inch records along with the formal CD and digital releases. This album is provocative and far from the contemporary mold of electronic music. Grimm Reality breathes an air into the electronic scene with lush instrumentation, new harmonic identities and a vestige for the unknown. It felt like too long since Dimlite released a record, this is a must own item for any lover of contemporary electronica.

-Joseph Molina and Erik Otis

Dimlite
Grimm Reality
Now-Again Records / Stones Throw Records

1. You Very Rich Believer
2. Pour Some Blood, We Got This
3. Blur, Blur, Blur, Blur
4. Healing A Random Tyrant
5. New, Better Pain
6. Yes, Welcome
7. XY
8. Through The Grimms/Stars Down
9. Than Them
10. Fridge Note
11. One Of Uh Infinity’s Countless Uh Tiny Cycles
12. Heroine Roof

Order the Vinyl, CD or MP3 from Stones Throw Records

Healing A Random Tyrant by Dimlite (Grimm Reality)

*All photos from Now-Again Records