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之 / OF

by LI YILEI

supported by
Zacharias Kraus
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Zacharias Kraus I didn't quite get it at first listen, but now that I gave it a few more tries I'm in love with the beauty of this album. Favorite track: KOU / 口.
seekerofmusic
seekerofmusic thumbnail
seekerofmusic As haunting as it is memorable, this album is a journey I will be taking over and over again.
Leon Frey
Leon Frey thumbnail
Leon Frey Entirely beguiling, with fragile atmospheres that both soothe and leave one feeling empty.

I might even wager that this will go on to be considered a classic.
HYLDÝPI
HYLDÝPI thumbnail
HYLDÝPI These 2 tracks are wonderful, look forward to hearing the rest of the album ❤️❤️
Working Title
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Working Title this is absolutely fantastic. some of the most invigorating interesting electronic music I've heard in some time Favorite track: CHU / 處.
more...
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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £8 GBP  or more

     

  • Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Limited Edition 140g Translucent 'Natural' Colour Vinyl. Limited second pressing of 500.

    Includes unlimited streaming of 之 / OF via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ships out within 7 days
    Purchasable with gift card

      £18 GBP or more 

     

  • Limited Edition Compact Disc
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Eco-friendly gatefold card case with exclusive gatefold artwork.

    Better product shots coming in a few weeks! :)

    Includes unlimited streaming of 之 / OF via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

1.
TAN / 潭 01:57
2.
CHU / 處 02:23
3.
HUO / 惑 04:15
4.
WEI / 未 02:13
5.
HAI / 海 03:43
6.
NEI / 内 03:37
7.
MUU / 木 02:10
8.
SAN / 散 02:06
9.
XUN / 旬 03:49
10.
YAN / 言 02:20
11.
YUN / 暈 05:12
12.
KOU / 口 03:15

about

‘’之 / OF is a word that can be used as a preposition to express the relationship between a part and a whole. It is an unfinished tone, a broken sentence, a start and a whole. It is sustainable, full of potentials and longings.’’

London based performance and sound artist Li Yilei shared an experience familiar to many migrants during the past year of COVID-19 chaos. With their UK visa set to expire, and family back in China, Li made a last-minute dash to return to their nation of birth. Able to board one of the last few flights to China during the initial turmoil of the coronavirus outbreak, Li made it back to Shanghai for a two-week stint in a quarantine hotel.

Though Li had already begun creating OF, the reality of the pandemic began to seep into the recordings. Each of the 12 tracks is a study in horology, using metaphorical sound transcriptions and atmospheric extractions to focus on the temporal relationship between experience and surroundings. Li’s awareness of their own understanding of time became increasingly heightened during quarantine and the emotional involvement found within these new realities informed many of the sounds created.

‘’I tried to portray each song as a short, scattered poem - a moment that I captured to represent each hour.’’

Composed using analogue synthesisers, vocal samples, field recordings and string instruments such as the violin and guqin, Li indulges in moments of grief, panic, healing, cessation, melancholy, vastness, hope, joy and emptiness as they explore the acoustic relations between humans and the many forces of nature.

The art of the Song Dynasty, with its ancient traditions of poetry and timekeeping, were also great sources of inspiration for the album - whilst paintings from the period, specifically those of flowers and birds, are common themes throughout the tracks. Indeed, it is within the vastness of time that the album artwork comes to relevance. The eighth emperor of the Song Dynasty, Huizong, was a revered artist and a scene from his work ‘Finches and Bamboo’ adorns the album cover.

之 / OF is available from August 16 2021 in a limited pressing of 500 140gm vinyl in a natural translucent colourway. In support of the release Li has made a limited number of handmade xun (a traditional Chinese vessel flute used as far back as 7000 years ago) - these can be purchased from Metron Records bandcamp page.

credits

released August 16, 2021

Composed and produced by Li Yilei.
Mastered by Brandon Hocura.
Design by Jack Hardwicke.

Special thanks to Jessica Goodchild, George Clift

license

all rights reserved

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