Tending a landscape all his own, bass visionary Floret Loret unearths a new four-track EP from out of this world. Made possible by the Deadbeats imprint, “Lightsplinter” is a mischievous, mystical soundscape crawling from the depths of Earth’s core. Forged from the fire and hardships of this past year, Floret Loret unleashes his most unique body of work yet.
“The theme behind this EP is overcoming challenges and embracing new beginnings. This year has been a difficult one—filled with new obstacles and uncertainty. I wanted to capture the feeling of hope that emerges in the face of adversity, while still maintaining a positive outlook toward the future. The story follows the forging of a sword made of light, crafted to battle the lingering darkness within Lightsplinter Cave.”
— Floret Loret
May the forces be with you…
The opening track, “Doves,” sets the tone for the EP instantly. The layered textures and eerie sounds resemble taking a wrong turn in the journey through Pan’s Labyrinth. Dark bass billows beneath your feet as you traverse this haunting soundscape, with fog slowly rising to the surface as the beat kicks in. A hip-hop-esque beat snaps in for just a second before dissolving into the mist once more. A perilous drop ensues as these hypnotizing synths and various instruments create a feeling of falling through the universe, grasping for direction. Raspy bass lines drive the backbeat home with a smooth and effortless glide.
Next comes “Assemblage”… like a clock spinning backwards on the wall, this one is intense right from the start. Huge glitchy bass booms engulf the listener in a single breath. The glitch-hop textures consume the listener from all angles, cascading in from every direction. Warped metallic noises, chimes, and synths that will drive the listener mad deliver full intensity from start to finish. Lost in the maze of Pan’s Labyrinth, this is the part where one gives up all hope of ever making it out.
Prepare for landing!
Crashing into this natural world of mystics is the fierce track “Frenzy.” Driven by a kind of Suicide Boys-esque backbeat, the ominous flutes pierce through the space-filled textures and heavy bass booms. The glitchiness really shines through on this track, with a hypnotizing loop sent by the glitch gods. Then, around the halfway mark, my journey through Pan’s Labyrinth turns into a fight for my life as Pac-Man is hot on my heels, trying to devour me at every turn. This chomping arcade-style beat suddenly disappears into the mist as the warped textures swirl around me once more. Frenzy is, bar none, the heaviest and darkest track on this new EP.
Then comes the title track, “Lightsplinter,” the true light at the end of the tunnel for this four-track journey through the underworld. Signaled by the chirping of birds, the sun begins to shine through, giving one hope. Delicate piano parts lift the listener through that final turn and out of the perilous maze we were once in. Almost like a distant bad dream, Lightsplinter delivers all the hope we need to push forward and start anew. Groove-filled bass lines sneak in around the first minute or so, whisking you away. Whimsical piano parts drift you through the clouds, like a scene from never-ending story. Raspy bass lines and Mario-like textures add an extra flavor to this delightful ending.
As the final piano note rings out, the dark is lifted and the light conquers the day once more.