The Citadel EP is the final instalment in the first phase of GLOK, the electronic alter ego of Andy Bell of shoegaze legends RIDE, giving centre-stage to the late, great Andrew Weatherall. The Guvnor's flip of ‘Cloud Cover’, a track from GLOK’s 2019 LP Dissident (and featured on the recent remix album Dissident Remixed), is a testament to Weatherall’s unique command of rhythm and sound. The skyscraping ambience of the original is transformed by his hand into a hugely evocative track which operates in the zone between Detroit electro, psychedelic house and dubwise techno. Hitting sweet spots of melody, harmony, rhythm and texture all at once, it's a (tiny) reminder of just what a supremely unique talent he was.
The EP also contains a trio of versions of ‘Pulsing’ - another cut which originally appeared on Dissident - by Andy. Two of the remixes are dancefloor-focused, and both of these versions work the channels of Kosmische synth, Italo-disco and tech-house to deliver sharp mid-tempo numbers - think Kraftwerk, Flight Facilities and Marco Passarani. The final entry on the EP is an ambient version of ‘Pulsing’ which, in its shoegaze-inspired atmospherics and wistfully beautiful electronic tones, harks back to Bell’s work in RIDE.
There is also a bonus remix exclusive to Bandcamp customers. The Citadel GLOK vs GLOK Keith Tenniswood Bootleg) was created when the mastering engineer Keith "Two Lone Swordsmen" Tenniswood accidentally sent over a version that was the two new GLOK remixes of Pulsing layered on top of each other. Because they have the same BPMs, it actually works perfectly, forming a brand new track. It's not included on the 12" or any of the streaming services, but this happy accident is available as part of the digital EP on Bandcamp.
There was a 12", limited to 200 copies, that was exclusive to the online retailer Bleep. It sold out in six hours!
credits
released October 2, 2020
All tracks written and produced by Andy Bell
Cloud Cover remixed by Andrew Weatherall (aka The Guvnor - RIP)
Mastered by Keith Tenniswood
Artwork by Graeme Swinton at Actually
supported by 42 fans who also own “The Citadel EP”
I love the album and am making some deep grooves in Way of the World, Riverside, Sidewinder and This is Our Year. But I especially love Holiday in the Sun, as it’s so relaxing and relatable…
greggy
Two dozen globe-spanning tracks compiled by CC:DISCO! with something for everyone: dreamy ambient, rubbery electro-funk, techno, & more. Bandcamp New & Notable May 29, 2021