‘Asura’, the gorgeous debut album from Los Angeles producer Ryan York, is the inaugural release from new LA label Non Projects, an associate imprint of Alpha Pup, now distributed in the UK by Cargo.
While firmly planted within the ever-growing Los Angeles beat scene, Non Projects simultaneously seeks to push beyond with disciplined studies of free jazz, modern classical composition, folk song, sound design and more. The concept of Asura, inspired by the work of Japanese poet Kenji Miyazawa, is that of a dissolution of self and environment in the face of strong emotion. By employing this guise in the electronic ouvre, and drawing on his training in the classical and jazz worlds as a bassist, cellist, guitarist, and trumpeter, Ryan York produces a truly organic new form of digital music.
The experience of falling in love in the backdrop of modern Los Angeles is central to his debut album, as its simultaneously decaying and awe inspiring environments are represented in the same space, along with the beauty and struggle of a new relationship, each abstract idea lending their own cracks, hisses, and echoes to the music. Asura’s sublime pulsing electronics and layered bliss won early support from Mary Anne Hobbs, who called ‘Asura’ “an absolutely magical record, really unique and truly immersive...", quickly commissioning an exclusive mix for her Radio 1 show in April.
This stylishly-presented release comes with 16 page art booklet, and is limited to 500 copies worldwide. Keen-eared listeners will hear similarities to artists such as Clark, Flying Lotus, Nosaj Thing, and Boards Of Canada.
*Please note this is in a plain white sleeve*