UPFRONTBEATS

Electronic group Pale Blue returns to Damian Lazarus’ label Crosstown Rebels. Dive stems from the pair’s upcoming album on the imprint, which will drop next year. Remixes from Fort Romeau and Rebolledo feature on the EP, adding another layer to the shoegaze-tinged tune.

Mike Simonetti talks about the theme of the track. “‘Dive’ is a breakup song. It’s about when the person you are living with becomes a stranger,” he says. “Musically, ‘Dive’ is an experiment in polyrhythms and textures; the music has a lot of movement, yet Elizabeth’s vocals are stoic throughout. The music represents the chaos of the relationship, and her voice is the calm realization of self.” The title track opens with Elizabeth’s soft vocals and a dreamy synthline, evoking a hazy but potent soundscape. On Fort Romeau’s remix, the Oxfordshire native offers a Tranceadelic Mix of the track, combining tribal-flecked percussion with an understated bassline, allowing Elizabeth’s lyrics to dominate the atmosphere. Rebolledo pens an acid melody and transposes Elizabeth’s vocals to an alien-like pitch’perfect for a tripped-out listen.

Jersey-born Mike Simonetti is one half of the musical group Pale Blue and the founder of labels Troubleman, Italians Do It Better and 2MR. With over two decades of experience working as a producer and DJ, Mike has released disparate sounds on Crosstown Rebels, Correspondent and several more, building the reputation of a versatile artist who avoids the limelight and instead focuses on making dance music with depth. In 2020, Pale Blue’s track I Walk Alone With Acid landed in Pitchfork’s The 30 Best Electronic Music Releases of 2020 and The 100 Best Songs of 2020. US-born Elizabeth Wight is a vocalist and the other half of Pale Blue. No matter the project she’s working on, her vocals add different layers to electronic music, creating a signature mood that only she knows how. I Walk Alone With Acid remains one of the most striking records in her evolving discography. UK-born Fort Romeau merges the tones of house, kraut, ambient, disco, and techno across his work, releasing on Permanent Vacation, Mesh and more. His album Beings of Light dropped on Ghostly International earlier this year, affirming his status as an innovative artist. Mexican DJ and producer Rebolledo is one-half of the electronic duo Pachanga Boys, but as a solo artist, his sound bounces between sun-kissed house and strutting disco. Tracks on Correspondent and Hippie Dance highlight his boundless approach as a producer.

Credited - For The Record