Review: If you've yet to check the work of Brazil born, Berlin-based chanteuse Dominique Dillon de Byington, you're missing out. Her distinctive style - fragile and downtempo, with influences from stripped-back techno, modern classical and folk ballads - is not only unique, but also thrillingly atmospheric. "A Matter of Time", the first single to be taken from her recent sophomore set The Unknown, offers an excellent introduction to her talents. Heart-achingly poignant and built around the twin attractions of yearning pianos and a pulsing, soft-focus, subdued rhythm, it's almost unbearably melancholic, but with enough sweetness to melt even the stoniest of hearts.
Review: Listening to this compilation, it's clear that 2013 was a banner year for Ellen Allien's label. No longer so focused on stripped back techno - although the hissing noise and dark bass tones of Camea's "Black Sparrow" provide some connection to Bpitch's back catalogue - Best Of focuses on the area where pop and electronic music meet. The tumbling drums and plaintive vocals on Eating Snow's "Siamese Twins By Choice" could be early period Sting (that's a compliment by the way), while Dillon's "This Silence Kills" is a beautifully fragile serving of ethereal electronic pop. Bpitch can still rock the house when required, as the nasty acid of Snuff Crew's "Bass" demonstrates, but the real highlights of Best of 2013 are the label's leftfield excursions.
Review: After years of searching, it sounds like Ellen Allien's label has finally found an electronic music diva. Silence is based on understated but plaintive piano playing, brassy licks and some ambient interludes - most notably the wintry charms of "Track 7" - but the most striking aspect of this debut album is Dominique Dillon de Byington's vocals. Like a more endearing Bjork on the wide-eyed "Your Flesh Against Mine" or Kate Bush in free flowing mode backed up with infectious ivory tinkling on "You Are My Winter", there is still enough originality here- check the toy town melodies and daft lyrics about robots on "Hey Beau" - to ensure Dillon has a very bright future.
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