body.404 is a riveting EP from Ukrainian-born producer and visual artist Darynka, who fuses a dynamic electronic stylishness within resonating themes of body and self in a hyper-digital world. The body’s evolution into various states — uploaded, extended, real, and sensual — are conveyed across the EP’s four tracks, which all excel with their melding of melodic savvy and depictions of personal fragmentation. The result is both a strongly listenable charmer and a movingly successful art project.
A heady, futuristic pulse stirs on opening track “Uploaded Body.” Sporadic swells of synths and robotic vocals audibly resemble an awakening, reflected in the ready-set-go lyrical feeling. “I transform from flesh and blood, into energy,” the vocals declare, venturing into a title-touting plea — assembling for an inventive, stylish hook with shades of SOPHIE. Eerie piano and orchestral-like electronic tones intermingle beautifully, furthering the gripping soundscape.
Ensuing track “Extended Body” succeeds in another aesthetical realm, fusing prancing piano, vibrant strings, and danceable rhythmic fervency as the lyrical realization — “I’m multiple things at once,” — suggest a heightening awareness that embraces multi-faceted identity and thought process, progressing from the more physical thematic awakening within “Uploaded Body.”
“I dream of real body,” a yearning vocal proclamation lets out on “Real body,” where buzzing synths, radiant strings, and house-ready piano build with invigorated vocal pleas and move beyond the preceding sense of merely embracing existence — and now craving a sense of personal realness as well. EP finale “Sensual Body” then enamors in its throbbing electronic meshing — with vocal depictions of body-to-body intimacy, in turn describing the type of realness inherent in the prior track’s yearning. Memorable in its thematic narrative and artfully melodic electronic production, body.404 is a thorough success from Darynka.
