Toronto-based electronic duo Isla Den – formed of Ellie Manning and Michael Reale – released their second EP Acid Dream today via Candadian collective/label Bedroomer. The duo is passionate about musical world building, amplifying the immersive qualities of their work with video, illustration and mixed media installations.
Their music investigates themes of nostalgia, environmentalism, and futurism through the lens of an imagined world. Ethereal sonic textures collide with manipulated vocals forming rich sonic landscapes that transport listeners to another realm.
The opening track on the EP, EccoPortal, explores existentialism in the digital age and what it means to be lonely in virtual space. The arrangement contrasts dance floor melodies with downtempo rhythms – creating a transformative ethereal experience that treads the line between rave-like catharsis and introspective listening.
Bright instrumentation, wrapped up in Purity Ring-esque sonic aesthetic, blends with shifting polyrhythmic energy and emotively charged vocal lines on this sweeping electronic piece.
Listen to EccoPortal below
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