Greg Surmacz - Timelines (Part 3) (2022)

XVI Records proudly present the third long-player from Leeds-based multi instrumentalist Greg Surmacz. Having gained support from the likes of Tom Ravenscroft, Moses Boyd, Bandcamp (and many more) with the previous instalments of this immersive listening project, Surmacz now delivers the final piece of the puzzle with ‘Timelines (Part 3)’.

Ascending to a new spiritual plane, ‘Timelines (Part 3)’ sees Surmacz lock into a more laid-back frequency, opting for a slightly more zen approach - guiding the listener through a series of floating worlds and shifting soundscapes. Greg explains “For the conclusion of the trilogy, my intention was to produce something more settled and reflective. Part 3 is about letting things breathe, and finding some stillness amongst a world of uncertainty and chaos. Musically it moves more slowly and deliberately, and for the first time I brought other musicians in to play too. Thematically this made sense to me - having created this sonic world as a means of escape, it felt right to finally let some other people in to become a part of it. The result is a more organic and emotional sound (although the odd synth-funk flourish remains).”

A lush sound palette provides an ideal backdrop for Greg and a host of collaborators - including drummer Matt Davies (Noya Rao, Matters Unknown) and cellist Liz Hanks (The Charlatans) - to let loose on their respective instruments, weaving intricate webs of melody through textured sonics and twisted drums. Ranging from the blissful synth waves of ‘Simple Squared’ and soaring strings of ‘Upstream’, winding through the whirlpooling arpeggios of ‘Amazon Death Spiral’ and bitcrushed Nintendo-esque melodies of ‘Jump, Man!’ - this record is an ode to finding your own path, and doing things your own way.