cloudland canyon

Cloudland Canyon are a two-piece on Kranky Records, whose sound shifts gloriously between wide expanses of instrumental landscapes to what could be described as post-krautrock. They have found a place on the fence, refusing to be swallowed by the wondrously indulgent soaring atmospherics that many Kranky signings expound, nor succumbing to the rusty industrial mechanics that so characterise krautrock. The result is something engrossing and intense; immersive and sometimes uncomfortable, on the edge of an industrial precipice.

“Heme” and is from this year’s Lie In The Light, and is the best example of what is described above. It is looped electronics, vintage synths and german chants. If I told you it was made in Brooklyn last year you wouldn’t believe me.  

Cloudland Canyon – Heme

“Krautwerk” is unashamedly derivative, but it works, and I love it.

Cloudland Canyon – Krautwerk

“Dambala” is from Silver Tongued Sisyphus. It builds early tape loops around stretched out quakings of strings and tuneful reverb, gutted and distorted by sustain and delay.

Cloudland Canyon – Dambala

Simon, interestingly, is also a member of Vice Records’ and Black Lips friends King Khan & The Shrines. Kip will be playing in Rhys Chatham’s performance of A Crimson Grail on the 15th August in New York on the 15th of August. He also records with Eden Express. They’ve released two albums, a split with Mythical Beast on Not Not Fun, and some other bits and pieces too.

You can buy their stuff at many of the links on the right, including Piccadilly Records and Boomkat.