Contemporary new age / ambient synth from Russia that we can all agree on, originally released on cassette in 2015. Bubbling with inspiration, X.Y.R.’s El Dorado is part tribute to Popol Vuh, part imaginary soundtrack of the Muisca (pre-Spanish colonialism Colombia) people, recorded at home in Saint Petersburg with obsolete Soviet-era gear, wood flute and field recordings. Vladimir Karpov projects this mythology beautifully, painting with broad strokes and bright, iridescent colors, like the interstellar new age of “Middle Of Nowhere” and “Golden Haze,” the emergent “Purple Sunset” and the tempered “Conquistador,” which is later recycled into the ritualistic chant of “Aguirre Song” to close out the session. Originally released in 2015 in an absurdly small run of 25 cassettes, the quasi-concept EP/LP gets the 12th Isle treatment with new artwork by Al White. Not many copies left because almost everyone here bought one! Recommended.

• black vinyl pressing
• originally released on cassette in 2015
• artwork by Al White
• music label: 12th Isle 2018

reviewed by tom violence 01/2019