London-based label Happy Robots Records has announced the forthcoming ‘Supermarkets, Underwater’ album by Brooklyn-based electronic artist Roman Angelos and producer Scott Solter, which will be released on May 19. Ahead of this, you can enjoy the first single ‘Swimming Through The Aisles (Teeming Mix)’, along with a special live performance version of the remix.
This 9-track collection follows his 2022 sophomore album ‘Music For Underwater Supermarkets’, a sleeper hit that combines electronica and exotica, painting a sonic dreamscape transposing the mundane act of grocery shopping to an aquatic utopian landscaping.
Exploring Roman’s obsession with the library and soundtrack music, with unfashionable sonic influences from Burt Bacharach to Vangelis, this record was brilliantly received with Electronic Sound Magazine describing it as “an album of splendid vibes”.
Roman Angelos is the nom de plume of Brooklyn-based producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist Rich Bennett, developed as a vehicle to explore his obsession with library recordings of the 60’s and 70s, muzak and exotica. Exotic, dreamy, and wistful, this is the sound of a jazz sextet as channeled through synths and drum machines, creating a spacey feel.
‘Supermarkets, Underwater’ is a fully reimagined remix of the original album from producer/engineer Scott Solter (St. Vincent, Maps & Atlases, Spoon, Superchunk, The Mountain Goats). Flipping the script, Solter takes the bouncy and upbeat material of the original album, creating a darker and more ambient landscape. Weaving in noise and shifting electronic percussion, it’s an entirely new record. Listeners dive deeper into unknown waters, no longer shopping alongside the friendly fish.
Lead track ‘Swimming Through The Aisles (Teeming Mix)’ uses the same irregular time signature and feel of the original, but adds in tremolo vibraphones, reverse guitars, and electronic drums, giving the music a new feel of exploration.
The original recordings were produced by Rich Bennett at Acme Hall Studios in Brooklyn and were recorded live to tape, all together in one room, by Colin Marston (Jarboe, Sailors With Wax Wings).
Beyond the world of library electronica, Rich Bennett has been involved in a diverse group of musical projects, including the newly reunited outsider / 60s proto-punk group The Shaggs, dream pop outfit Mahogany, and Brazilian funk group Limoncello, in addition to production work with Stereolab’s Morgane Lhote (aka Hologram Teen).
Roman’s previous releases for Happy Robots have gained praise from Electronic Sound Magazine, Hi-Fi World, Shindig! Magazine, The Electricity Club, Freq and The Haunted Generation, as well as BBC6 Music radio play from Gideon Coe, Cerys Matthews and Stuart Maconie’s Freak Zone, plus Bob Fisher (BBC Tees).
On April 26, ‘Swimming Through The Aisles (Teeming Mix)’ will be available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The ‘Supermarkets, Underwater’ album is out on May 19 with distribution by Cargo Records. The CD version will be available exclusively at https://happyrobotsrecords.bandcamp.com
In June 2023, Roman Angelos will be touring select UK cities with Happy Robots labelmate Rodney Cromwell, performing in London, Coventry, Reading and Todmorden. Tickets may be obtained at www.happyrobots.co.uk/tickets.
