Applescal – Dreaming in Key

apples

It was Applescal’s ‘El Diablo’, centering around a pounding breakbeat and a simple synth melody, that first alerted me to the young Dutch producer. The track stood out as bold, promising and yet strangely familiar. A few months down the line and the very same could be said for his third LP, Dreaming in Key.

Still in his early twenties, Pascale Terstappen has clearly progressed from the nascent explorations on his second effort Mishmash of Changing Moods. The dominating analogue leads are still expertly sculpted but feel more harmonious than before. It is a cohesion that runs through the record, starting with album opener ‘Boys’ – a sign of things to come with its pulsating four-four beat, arpeggiated synths and intermittent shuffle.

Dreaming in Key is an immediately pleasant listen, partly a result of tunes laden with catchy lead hooks and inviting arpeggios, but also thanks to a technical variety that keeps things intriguing. Applescal knows his way around a filter or two and how to manipulate carefully crafted synths: take the filtered pads and bouncy bass of ‘Spring and Life’, which work in perfect harmony with the infectious percussion timbres; or the rich and deep build-ups and breakdowns of ‘Onetasker’.

By veering towards a sound more familiar and comfortable, Dreaming in Key has become Applescal’s most playable record to date. Airy sounds reminiscent of Four Tet, Gold Panda and Boards of Canada, in amongst weightier electro, will win over more listeners, but perhaps carries the caveat of becoming less distinctive.

Ultimately, this is of little concern. Dreaming in Key is a solid slab of electronica that will be enjoyed by many, and for some time to come.

By Henry Fraser

Atomnation | Released: February

01. Boys (feat. David Douglas)
02. Lonely People
03. On The Way (feat. Piana)
04. Spring And Life
05. Vintage Clown / Shadow Hunters
06. Thanks For Fun
07. Onetasker
08. Wise Noise On Time (feat. Lanny May)
09. El Diablo (Live Version)
10. The Composer
11. Keep On Dreaming

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