Lake Haze - Henosis (2022)

Gonçalo Salgado - better known by the alias Lake Haze - knows a thing or two about world building. The Lisbon don’s third Shall Not Fade release sees him experiment with a sound that differs from his last: an ode to the retro, computer-love aesthetic of chiptune and video game music.

Whilst tracks like the uptempo ‘Xyleac’ and ‘Bbyncole’ centre on playfulness and fun, others deftly tease out the style’s potential to be emotive. ‘Diluspth’ and ‘So45101 - 51 - 16’ are stripped-back with the latter adding a shuffly drum pattern which brings a certain groove. Earworm melodies and synth-laden arpeggios drive ‘Flhewn(303)irio’ and ‘Dith6xove’ but ‘Shores Of Eternal Life’ and ‘Blue Suzuki’ are blissfully amorphous, letting ambience do the talking.

Henosis LP drops 2nd September via Shall Not Fade.