One of the most spectacular albums from 2018 comes from Kelly Moran. With „Ultraviolet“ the American composer delivers an unexpected success and her first release on Warp Records. Produced with the help of Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never) Moran creates his most ambitions work until now.
After the two predecessor records „Optimist“ (2016) and „Bloodroot“ (2017), „Ultraviolet“ was the third record by Kelly Moran. Her music spins between genres like classical, electronic, minimalist and jazz. The experimental approach is unmistakable and could be easily compared to other drone / ambient composer like Tim Hecker, Oneohtrix Point Never or Mondkopf. In many of her compositions, Moran utilizes electronic musical techniques in combination with the John Cage-pioneered technique of the prepared piano. For „Ultraviolet“ Moran described it as following: „I am trying to obfuscate exactly what the piano sounds like. The whole point is to make it sound different“. The album delivers a wide, arresting array of stylistic influences, from jazz and dream pop, to classical composition and black metal. To pick an highlight isn’t easy, but „Helix“ shines from start to finish. This year Moran returns with a re-work EP from „Ultraviolet“. Most of the tracks from „Origin“ are well known but they comes in a new form. But three of them are completely new. „Love Birds, Night Birds, Devil-Birds“ are one of them. With the Japanese touch in style it reminds me a bit to Tim Heckers last effort „Anoyo“, an also excellent record from this year. With „Night Music“ she also delivers a very reduced piano track. Very beautiful as a closing track. Finally the EP starts at the point were the album finished. Very impressive!
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