A Seat Worthy to Sit In

Electronic music stands out best when it feels human. A Frozen Throne by Groundislava feels human in the way that it is not limited. A person is no one thing, and A Frozen Throne cannot be defined by just one genre, or one sound. Groundislava have collected slow laments, disco tunes, sexual R&B, trance tracks, and straight up dance music into a single project.

The opening tracks have these long, melodic breakdowns. The result is a contemplative weirdness that can allow your imagination to have its fun with it. What these slower tracks also do is prime you for the end of the album, which picks up considerably, into a dance fest.

One of those songs is “October Pt. 2.” It takes all that good weirdness and puts it on a dance beat, the kind you can’t help but vibe to. This song is about trying to get someone to stick around. The sullen lyrics should feel inappropriate over the kick drum and dancy high-hat, but it somehow makes your feet move. Groundislava allow you to look on the bright side, even when you’re not involved.

“The Steel Sky,” the last song on the album, is what the entire album has been preparing for. It builds with far-away lyrics, a driving bass, and bouncy, strange tones. Then, about three and a half minutes in, Groundislava blow the roof off it. It is the kind of track that, if you heard it played in a club, or at a party, you wouldn’t notice until that final push. Then you would dance until your face fell off. Then you would wonder what the fuck just happened. It’s this kind of powerful subtlety that makes Groundislava special.

A Frozen Throne can take you to some very interesting places. Groundislava build these soundscapes with such attention to detail that they deserve to be listened to.