With so many complex, mentally befuddling electronic songs constantly ambushing us, it's very refreshing to hear something a bit softer on the ears. Thankfully, LANKS has provided us with some greatly needed delicate tunes, and we couldn't be more thankful that he did. LANKS is the solo project of the Aussie musician, Will Cuming, who already has plenty of experience fronting the seven-piece band, Farrow. Now, however, Will has given himself the opportunity to generate his own unique sound, which he describes as "taking parts from Radiohead’s intricate grooves, Bon Iver’s vocal layering, and Jamie XX’s famed dead space". We couldn't have put it any better, and his description is clearly audible in debut EP, Thousand Piece Puzzle. "Green Light", our first favorite from the project, emits total serenity through its ambient soundscape and mellow guitar plucks. Percussion is used scarcely, and the downtempo instrumental fits like a glove beneath LANKS' delicate vocals. An unknown female vocalist appears on the track as well, and she compliments LANKS brilliantly, both by rotating verses, and by harmonizing with him. Also catching our attention is "Boniki", another calm piece, yet not quite as soporific as the previously discussed track. The drum beat is less minimalistic, and the tempo is slightly faster, but the track ends up being a blend of guitar riffs, piano chords, and echoed vocals, all of which snowball together to create a harmonic affair. If you're digging these soothing sounds of LANKS', you can pick up our favorites and check out the rest of his Thousand Piece Puzzle EP on Bandcamp.
LANKS