The curiously monickered Labyrinth Ear (sounds like a name discarded by a failed prog rock group from 1972) are Emily and Tom an electronic duo from the New Cross, the artistic hub of independent London. Their debut EP of glacial electro pop, issued late last year, is a strong statement of intent from a duo clearly going places. The Devil's favourite track, 'Navy Light', a perfect combination of Depeche Modesque electro and heart rending lyrics, harks back to the golden age of futurism of the early 80s (and yes I do see the irony). It would have thrilled them down at the Blitz club in 1980. White Gold is a slow burning beauty. If I didn't know better I'd call it chillwave.
For such a young band their ambition and assurance is simply breathtaking. To attempt an electropop take on 'I'm Wishing' from the Disney movie Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs is ambitious and some would say doomed to derision. To make it sound like a chillwave classic is bordering on the unbelievable.
Lithium, unfortunately not an electro pop cover of Nirvana's Lithium, starts like an experimental track from OMD's early days before morphing into the weird product of a midnight liaison between Madonna's Vogue and The Normal's TVOD. Labyrinth Ear are one of the bands to watch in 2011.
Now about that name...
Go Try
White Gold by Labyrinth Ear
MP3 - Labyrinth Ear - Navy Light
MP3 - Labyrinth Ear - Lithium
These tracks are linked direct from the Labyrinth Ear Last.FM site and are therefore already freely available so please don't claim breach of copyright
Go Visit
Labyrinth Ear - Myspace : Last.FM : Website : Soundcloud
Go View
Labyrinth Ear
Snow White