“Anhedoniac” brings to mind a beach in the wintertime, where the cold is pensive and the air is pristine; the swells of voice and sound are like solar flares in slow motion (or a lava lamp).
While I was looking for songs to play on one of my sets, I stumbled upon Andrei Eremin’s track “Anhedoniac” off of his 2015 EP “Pale Blue,” and was immediately intrigued. It features vocals from the charmingly extraterrestrial Kučka, and it is hypnotic.
Part of why I find it so fascinating is because, in my opinion, it kind of lacks the distinct 2010s electropop sound. In my head it’s comparable to “Innocence” by Flume, featuring AlunaGeorge, in how its deep-space atmosphere removes it from the throes of time. The synths of “Anhedoniac” wax and wane like ocean under a permanent red sun, and although ambient, the song is not aeriform.
Alongside Eremin’s gorgeous production, Kučka’s voice contributes a svelte substance to the mix. She takes her time, as if she was reading a poem she had written herself. Her vocals are a sensory experience: the words “[Y]ou could destroy me” sound like a sworn truth as they come out of her mouth, a revelation and a confession all at once.
Eremin has worked with several artists since, including the likes of Hiatus Kaiyote, Tash Sultana, Sampa the Great, MAY-A, Ta-ku, Wafia, and Kllo, but has not put out any new tracks of his own. He’s an elusive presence for sure, but his influence is not insubstantial, however quiet it may be. Here’s to hoping we get something new from him one of these days.
love & disco,
dirty chai <3
