First known for playing bass in noise pop band
the History of Apple Pie
and working with techno producer
Daniel Avery
,
Kelly Lee Owens
signed to avant-leaning Norwegian label
Smalltown Supersound
and released three acclaimed albums of dreamlike electro-pop and spacy techno. The third, 2022's
LP.8
, was a challenging yet soothing effort equally inspired by industrial pioneers
Throbbing Gristle
and new age icon
Enya
. Following her most experimental effort to date,
Owens
seems to have switched gears entirely.
Dreamstate
is released by
dh2
, an electronic-focused imprint of
Dirty Hit Records
run by
George Daniel
of
the 1975
.
Daniel
wrote and produced material for the album, along with other major collaborators including
Bicep
and
the Chemical Brothers
'
Tom Rowlands
. While just as atmospheric and ethereal as
' previous efforts,
seems to draw more from progressive house and trance than ambient and experimental music. The mostly instrumental opener "Dark Angel" easily could have appeared on an
Anjunabeats
release, and other songs are in the vein of
Paul van Dyk
-produced vocal trance. The title track and "Air" are undeniably euphoric without being overblown, and there's a psychedelic tinge to others, such as the
Rowlands
co-produced "Ballad (In the End)." The catchy "Love You Got" is one of the album's more captivating attempts at creating a dance-pop anthem, and "Higher" feels motivational in the way it constantly elevates. "Time To"'s punchy breakbeats and woozy aura make for one of the album's highlights. ~ Paul Simpson