Fade Runner (a.k.a. Simon Girard) teams up with Canadian record label Ancient Robot to deliver a synth-illating performance on his latest release, Geometric Smoke. The EP, which follows his debut album on Bedroom Research and a series of smaller releases, is a deeply textured and melodic endeavour from the Montreal-based producer.
Listening to Geometric Smoke, it comes as little surprise to find out that Girard is an avid fan of video game soundtrack artists; in particular, he admires the work of Nobu Uematsu. The Japanese composer is renowned for scoring many of the Final Fantasy franchise tracks, including "One-Winged Angel" — one of the most widely revered video game anthems of all time.
Girard successfully employs aspects of video game music to make Geometric Smoke an atmospheric and all-encompassing electronic journey. He's involved in a kind of musical world-building, to borrow the term from fantasy and science fiction writers, as he creates lavish sonic landscapes for his listeners to enjoy (most notably on "Shells And Dust" and "Eye-Xplosive"). Girard has a natural ear for melody ("Magic Feather"), but also shows he isn't afraid to wander off the beaten path ("Geometric Smoke"). His music is at once playful, fantastical and otherworldly.
If you're looking to escape reality for a while, Fade Runner's latest is your ticket to another realm.
(Ancient Robot)Listening to Geometric Smoke, it comes as little surprise to find out that Girard is an avid fan of video game soundtrack artists; in particular, he admires the work of Nobu Uematsu. The Japanese composer is renowned for scoring many of the Final Fantasy franchise tracks, including "One-Winged Angel" — one of the most widely revered video game anthems of all time.
Girard successfully employs aspects of video game music to make Geometric Smoke an atmospheric and all-encompassing electronic journey. He's involved in a kind of musical world-building, to borrow the term from fantasy and science fiction writers, as he creates lavish sonic landscapes for his listeners to enjoy (most notably on "Shells And Dust" and "Eye-Xplosive"). Girard has a natural ear for melody ("Magic Feather"), but also shows he isn't afraid to wander off the beaten path ("Geometric Smoke"). His music is at once playful, fantastical and otherworldly.
If you're looking to escape reality for a while, Fade Runner's latest is your ticket to another realm.