Selections: Purelink
In this series, we invite DJs, producers and label heads to dig into their digital crates and share the contents of their collections. This week, Purelink spotlight low-key experimental pop, smoky dub-folk, peak-time minimal techno and more
Purelink are among a flourishing new wave of artists exploring the bioluminescent depths of downtempo, ambient and dub techno. The Chicago trio of Ben Paulson (Kindtree), Tommy Paslaski (Concave Reflection) and Akeem Asani (Millia) came together in early 2020, bonding over a shared interest in acts like Visible Cloaks and Basic Channel. An initial living room studio jam lit a creative fuse for the artists, each of whom had been producing their own music for some time, touching on ambient shoegaze and percussive club music. Paulson and Paslaski had also previously collaborated under the all light hits u alias.
Purelink – whose name is derived from the Ableton link/sync feature they use to produce and perform together – released their debut EP, ‘Bliss / Swivel’, in 2021, a hazy two-tracker of dreamstate dub techno and deep jungle recorded live. They followed this up with a gorgeous self-titled outing on the newly launched UwU dust bath label in 2022 and ‘To / Deep’ on Montreal’s naff recordings in March this year.
On their new album, ‘Signs’, released via Peak Oil, Purelink have further honed their voice. Across the six-track, 39-minute suite, they stitch Chain Reaction-esque fibres into blankets of warm synth: a gentle kick pattern here, a full-bodied bass throb there, a fleeting melody, a faint crackle or fizzy glitch – all rendered in spellbinding soft focus. It’s music to sink into and float away with. A blissful soundtrack for the late-night/early-morning afterglow.
The “electronic jam band”’s Selections capture the myriad influences they’ve distilled into their own music, from low-key electronic pop, smoky dub-folk and “Joni Glitchell”-esque indie into peak-time minimal techno and experimental club music. Dive in below.
“Mikey went crazy, deep and affecting. Hope to see him writing more for himself and others.”
“Frankly, really all I wanna listen to on my day to day...”
“Accidental Meetings always putting out the shit on wanna hear on a huge system. Can’t wait to play this new one from Angel Rocket out soon.”
“Exciting new release from YS, This new one covers a lot of the classic sounds and styles that made me get into electronic music in the first place, but in a fresh way that feels natural.”
“One of the best electronic jam bands to ever do it. ‘Shred’ is an instant classic track for me. Everything CS and Kreme do is essential home listening.”
“This track, ‘Mercer’, by Invite is the type of peak-time immersive minimal techno that I personally love to hear in the club.”
“Amor Satyr consistently delivers, blending baile/electro/psychedelic techno in a creative way I haven’t quite heard before. Crucial DJ tool–types of tracks where ears perk up when you play them out.”
“Big fan of anything from the extended CCFX universe and love Daisies’ take on ‘Paisley Underground’ mixed with rave sensibilities. Album closer ‘Is It Any Wonder’ sounds like a lost anthem from the ‘90s.”
“One of the few artists that ends up in almost every single DJ set of mine. Tammo has a knack for writing very perc-centric, drum tech rollers that can work in a lot of different contexts. All eight tracks on this release are club floor ready, but my personal fav is probably ‘Rather Stationary’.”
“Cannot express how much I love ML’s music; she has such a unique sonic palette of various guitars and MIDI drums to make interesting rock / pop / ballads that I find hard to compare to anyone else. This new album explores her singer-songwriter ‘Joni Glitchell’ sound even further.”
