LOFN - Post-Apo Romance

LOFN is a project that I did not know about until they were brought to my attention for this review. Founded in 2017 by Aitcher Clark and Anna Coranić, the duo focuses on electronic music that bounds across industrial, experimental, ambient, techno, and other such related genres. They have so far shared the stage with the likes of Telefon Tel Aviv, Oake and Hiro Kone, and managed to capture the attention of VEYL records for their five track EP "Post-Apo Romance". I'm hoping that they're able to win more and more music enthusiasts over as "Post-Apo Romance" is a gorgeous journey through mystic and serene electronics that brings about an overwhelming sensation of tranquility. 

The EP begins with 'Mother', and I will admit that I was quite frightened by the initial moments of the track. While ambiance is mentioned under their influences, the most I get within the first minute of the song is the sound of objects shuffling around and the odd drop of bass. Frightened, however, as I thought the song was going to fail to evolve into anything more than this dull ambiance. However, that changed when what I assume to be Coranić's echoing voice began to sing. Slowly but surely, the brilliance of building the song from nothing to a masterpiece of expert, cinematic electronics hit me like a brick. There are several sections to the track as well; going from the silence within the beginning minute, to the ambient filled mid-section, to the final percussion heavy finale is breathtaking. 



Much like the previous song, 'Pachad' starts with almost nothingness. There's an echoing voice followed by far-off drums and warnings of ominous synths. Around the one-minute and forty-five second mark, Coranić's gorgeous vocals come in once more; they sound much more sturdy and confident in 'Pachad'. Again, the sweeping synths, epic layers of synthetic noise, and overall industrial undertone warped me into a different reality. On further plays of the album, I always find myself reaching for my headphones to listen to "Post-Apo Romance" for I do not wish to miss a single note or texture that comes out of LOFN's music. 

'I Get Lit' takes LOFN into a completely different direction; after some shouting within the opening seconds occurs, the song plays out some lo-fi techno beats backed by what sounds like raw guitar. The chirping of birds and a whining dog plays around the thirty-three second mark, and then I was thrust into the meat of the track. This hardened industrial techno maintains pace throughout the rest of the song, constantly holding on tightly to a raw sound. After a clash of noise around the three-minute and forty-five second mark that lasts until the four-minute and twelve second mark, I was let out of the track by glitchy, spooky samples that state, "We would like to see most of the human race killed off cause it is unworthy." It sent some chills down my spine. 

Ambient electronica and techno is the main focus on 'Invocation'. A slight beat rumbles in the opening moments backed by a synth line that slowly turns into a higher pitched note over time. Whispered vocals come in later on, playing with noise textures. Just like in other songs prior to this one, the synth lines build up over time into gorgeous, almost-drone like lines. It leads into an amazing crescendo of static noise, brutal synth layers, and IDM-inspired lines before evaporating into a calm station only filled with very light ambiance and whispers. 

The final song on the EP is the title track, 'Post-Apo Romance'. The opening three minutes are rather boring, however; this little stretch of ambiance isn't dense or varied. It's quite easy to dismiss it even when listening to it with headphones on. However, once the beat strikes in around the three-minute and five second mark I was back on my toes to see what LOFN would come up with next. Almost like a switch, Coranić's vocals silenced all noise and led into a different section of the song entirely. IDM textures, glitchy bits, and soft synths drove me into the second half of 'Post-Apo Romance'. The final section of the song hits in after a heart-beat like rhythm. LOFN finishes their journey with me by blasting their ambient synths one last time, ending on a high note. 

The minor complaints that I have in regards to LOFN's "Post-Apo Romance" EP are practically negligible in comparison to all the wonders they have created on the album. While most bands struggle to craft a radio hit that lasts for three minutes and ends abruptly, LOFN are sonic wizards capable of extending a concept into upwards of ten-minute tracks. Their music is hypnotic and alluring, traveling dimensions, time, and space. It's a universal work that should be appreciated by anyone who's a fan of any of the genres LOFN uses throughout the EP; industrial and experimental fanatics will appreciate the textures and noise bits LOFN plays with while ambient lovers will fall in love the spacious sounds LOFN so delicately manipulates. For all that, I give this EP an 8.5 out of 10. 

This review was commissioned through our Ko-fi page.
Sep 06 2021