Bleep

The highly anticipated debut release Heartland from Portland-based producer Dylan Stark finally arrives via Civil Music. Tirelessly and meticulously constructed from hoards of diverse samples, Stark’s introduction to the scene is about as bold, emotive and complete as it can get. The emotionally wrought ‘Ashen’ opens the album, building the tension with dampened stabs before erupting into the producer’s rich, widescreen sound, whereas ‘Shelter’ effortless shifts between dramatic and tranquil moments with its steel drum highlights. Continuing the theatrical feel, the title cut ‘Heartland’ keeps the pulses racing with its breathless expanse of euphoric textures flowing with life, followed by the loopy, chip tune-esque epic ‘Parade’ and similarly fervent ‘Daydream’. ‘Northern’ shifts to a more introspective mood, gradually swelling to a powerful release, whilst the more upbeat ‘Near Dawn’ is the best exhibition of this prodigious artist’s masterful use of sampling, here rearranging a diverse array of sonic scraps into a clattering ethnic frenzy.