**Superb debut album of lush cinematic electronica. RIYL Boards Of Canada, Hype Williams, (ambient) Actress, Belbury Poly, Oneohtrix Point Never - Includes digital download code redeemable from the label** 'Regional Surrealism' is the debut album proper from Glasgow's artistic polymath, Konx-Om-Pax aka Tom Scholefield. He's the man responsible for some of the defining album artwork of recent times; his futurist geometric vectors adorn the covers of contemporary classics such as Oneohtrix Point Never's 'Rifts' and Lone's 'Galaxy Gardens', and he's shot equally arresting videos for Kuedo, Hudson Mohawke and King Midas Sound among others. Oh aye, and he's released a couple of ace mini-LPs for his own label, Display Copy. Which brings us to his most impressive recordings to date; an absorbing set of intricate, cinematic electronica imbued with his psychedelia vision. Tom cites formative inspirations from Drexciya and Jeff Mills and they're tangibly felt in his alien, sub-aquatic and otherworldly interzones. But it's perhaps the more intangible twinges of nostalgia and "Scottish surrealism" which best define his sound, lending an intuitively emotive effect and unpolished aesthetic that's pushing our buttons, at least. Across 14 tracks he maps an undulating and beautifully nuanced topography ranging from SAW-era AFX-like intimations such as 'Isotonic Pool' to the roiling, heathered drama of 'At Home With Mum And Dad' to the cryptic, Hype Williams-esque 'Sura-Tura-Gnosi-Cosi' featuring Steven Retchard and early kosmiche memories of 'Zang-Tumb' with Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite. And that's only the first half. The second gazes upon Popol Vuh-like vista 'Glacier Mountain Descent' - which was inspired by the opening scene to Herzog's 'Aguirre' - and travels thru the arcane mystery of 'Slootering' to the Parmegiani-like concrete of 'Lagoon Leisure' and the uncanny ambient resolution of 'Silent Reading' or 'Let's Go Swimming'. Yet for all those allegories, Konx-Om-Pax has created something uniquely affecting, with it's own distinct personality and cyber-rustic charm which more than makes up for any accusations of imitation. It's well recommended.A1 Intro A2 Isotonic Pool A3 At Home With Mum And Dad A4 Twin Portal Redux A5 Sura-Tura-Gnosi-Cosi A6 Zang-Tumb A7 Glacier Mountain Descent B8 Pillars Of Creation B9 Slootering B10 Lagoon Leisure B11 Hurt Face B12 Chambers B13 Silent Reading B14 Let's Go Swimming
