AUXR – “Plastic Love” (feat. Stína Ágústsdóttir)
Amsterdam-based artist AUXR collaborates with Icelandic singer Stína Ágústsdóttir on the riveting single “Plastic Love,” exuding a soulful trip-hop production with ample atmospheric engrossment. The track represents the first in a series of similar collaborations, finding AUXR working with talented vocalists.
The alias of Auke Riemersma, AUXR takes inspiration from labels like Warp, Mo’ Wax, and Wall of Sound, embracing a downtempo and stylish production, evident on his 2022 Suite of Flow EP, and again here on the captivating “Plastic Love,” described as about a “love affair between a woman who controls the situation and a man who is desperate for her.”
“Plastic Love” compels immediately with its heavy percussive pulses and smoothly embracing keys, as Ágústsdóttir’s suave vocals emerge seamlessly. Glistening keys and a sporadic percussive pause drives into intermingling vocal layers, asking “is it really real?” with hypnotic allure. An ensuing, jazzy key progression proves catching, with a backing shimmer emerging at points with delicate precision, like the satisfying conclusion, reaffirming once more “this is plastic love.”
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of March 2023’ Spotify playlist.