Cold Dark Matter

Maere - Cold Dark Matter (SMBL050) Release date: March 3, 2017 Rising from the thriving Berlin underground, Maere debuts with Cold Dark Matter, the 50th release in the Symbols catalogue and a striking collection of inky, soundsystem-focused productions. At six songs, Cold Dark Matter is just long enough to fully submerge the listener in Maere’s expansive sound design — mostly comprised of analogue synths run through cassette decks — and its focused sense of melodrama takes on an all-encompassing nature from the buzzy opening notes of “It Swarms” to the hi tech churn of “Outro”. Reference points abound in Maere’s work, but the unique design elements are what come to the fore throughout Cold Dark Matter. Those design elements range from richly textured synths to meticulously placed drums, pointing to hip hop and R&B production while drawing up and aspiring for an entirely new future. That outlook makes the newcomer out of Germany a perfect fit for the Symbols roster and Cold Dark Matter, out March 3, is as dazzling of a debut as you’re likely to come across.