Dollboy Meets Sone Institute – The Sum and The Difference

Ever varied and ambitious in their releases, the rather wonderful Front & Follow’s latest offering comes courtesy of Sone Institute and Dollboy, aka Roman Bezdyk and Ollie Cherer respectively. Sone Institute’s disjointed sampling that skits manically between a broken down fairground ride stuck on a loop and an ethereal woodland glade, paired alongside Dollboy’s unique take on electropop mixed with folkish leanings, makes for an interesting combination. Although seemingly quite different in approach, there is a certain twisted innocence to both artists that makes them a suitable pairing and the fruits of their labours have resulted in a charmingly unnerving little EP.

Comprising seven short tracks, The Sum and The Difference is intended to be heard as one 17 minute piece and although each track has it’s own character there is a definite bluring of edges which makes this feel a very considered work, rather than a collection of tunes put together for the sake of it. A relay like recording approach where material was swapped, reworked and added to, has resulted in both artists being given room to shine. As two very individual voices this could easily have ended up as a sonic battle but there is a subtlety at work here that allows each to explore their own ideas as well as embellish upon the other’s. Opening track Sunshine, hears Sone Insitute’s dream-laden samples weave around Dollboy’s music-box like melody and minimal, ghostly vocals before flowing into the predominantly sample led A Slow Reader.

The more subdued Stay Lost comprises sparse guitar and piano interspersed with abstract samples that weave their way around the melody, creating a beautifully textured piece that drifts, free of tempo, through the ether before landing back to earth with the upbeat number Play For Today. Certainly the result of Dollboy’s more electropop mood, Cherer’s vocal clarity lends itself perfectly to the synthy backing and Sone Institute’s oddball electronics.

A lovely little release that seems all the nicer for leaving you wanting more. Dream-like and disconcerting at the same time, this is what this pair are good at individually but combined have gained an extra edge. As well as digital downloads there will be a limited edition mini-CD release complete with gorgeous packaging as is the Front & Follow way.

- Review by Katie English for Fluid Radio

Also make sure to head over to The Wire web site for an exclusive free download

www.frontandfollow.com
www.myspace.com/soneinstitute
www.dollboy.co.uk