Moving forward from last year's well received debut EP "Becoming (N)one" on Glacial Industries, v1984 releases his debut for Knives, the label founded by Jamie Teasdale (Kuedo) and Joe Shakespeare. v1984, real name Christopher Ramos, is of Korean/Filipino descent and the title "Pansori" reflects his Korean heritage. It has the dual translation of a 'gathering place for sound' and it specifically refers to traditional storytelling, which in turn is a neat description of the EP. The music here is delicate and meticulously laid out. Even when it approaches noise it's detailed and elegant rather than bludgeoning, like the piano and arpeggio that give way to a cold crystalline spray and shimmering drone in the openening track. As with every Knives release, visual communication is an integral part of this project. Berlin-based Maren Karlson's illustrative practice is absurd, technically meticulous and walks a fine line between beauty and the corruption of aesthetics. Maren has provided the artwork for "Pansori", and these traits align perfectly with Christopher's compositions.
