Drawing us in with a meditative synth and glistening guitar melody with textured percussion, Brain Hops opens Antropic with intrigue and cinematic allure. The opus expands with cosmic keys as we are taken on an intricate and emotive journey. We appreciate the genre expansive nature of the composition and the nostalgic elements that manifest.
There is no doubt that Antropic is a poignant demonstration of instrumental mastery, and we could imagine the composition as the score to a Pedro Almodovar or Luca Guadagnino production. The electric guitar that emerges is transcendental, and taps into an 80s vibe that fans of Dire Straits would be able to connect with. We could also imagine its atmospheric guitar and synth textures working beautifully in films such as Drive, The Neon Demon or Only Lovers Left Alive.
What makes the track even more fascinating is how spontaneously it came together. Brain Hops initially recorded the foundation on a looper whilst waiting for the bathroom to become free. The artist then took the basic rhythm and opening theme and developed every part that same evening. Remarkably, there was no re-recording, with only some cleaning up and rearranging. This gives Antropic a natural sense of movement, and deep authenticity.
For some context, instrumentally, Brain Hops handles almost everything himself, playing the electric guitars, bass and piano, whilst the drums were performed on an electronic kit and shaped further with software. The guitar was recorded both traditionally through an amplifier and directly through amp simulations, whilst the bass was recorded via DI and treated with additional effects. Reverb and modulation help create the expansive quality of the guitar solos, with everything mixed and mastered entirely in his studio in the south of France.
There is also something particularly refreshing about the decision to avoid loops and samples. Every element has been performed, recorded and shaped by Brain Hops, giving Antropic an organic quality despite its sophisticated production. His influences stretch back to rock from the late sixties and early seventies, but the finished composition feels far removed from simple nostalgia, combining those classic instincts with atmospheric synths and contemporary studio techniques.
As the first single from an already completed album expected to contain seven or eight tracks, Antropic feels like an intriguing introduction to a much larger sonic world.
Needless to say, we are impressed by the craftsmanship behind Antropic, and have added the track to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TRIPPY playlist, whilst we anticipate future releases from Brain Hops.