Monolith Cocktail Blog

VIDEO/DOMINIC VALVONA

Violet Nox ‘Loki’
Video created by Del Siervo of a track taken from the group’s Vortex And Voices album, released in 2023 by Somewherecold Records.

Enjoying a certain renaissance, thanks to a certain superhero franchise and self-standing series on one of the many streaming service sites, the Nordic mythological figure of Loki is used as both a mirror and symbol for whichever group, generation adopts him/her/them. Because although principally depicted as male, Loki is a fluid entity that changes gender at will. With all that entails, in the sense of analogy and metaphor, Loki is obviously a most useful, congruous – if you forget about all the chaos that ensues with his presence, the tricks and cunning; although in the mythological lexicon, this god is neither good or evil – symbol of the LGBT+ community. Which leads me to the Boston, Massachusetts electronic group Violet Nox, who use Loki as a signifier, andan embodiment of metamorphosis and synergy, for their oboe trippy hallucination of a new age trance-electronic track of the same name – although this wafted and drifted mirage could be mistaken more for something form the new age realms of reincarnated Egyptology.

Taken from last year’s futuristic Vortex And Voices album of psy-trance, cerebral techno and acid ethereal-voiced self-realization/self-discovery – which also made our choice albums lists of that year – ‘Loki’ has inspired a suitably transformative, symbolic video from Del Siervo, a Venezuelan artist and ambient/new age musician living in Argentina, who’s art evolves around myths from different ancient traditions, especially from the Amazon. Siervo works with new technologies to create images that evoke the mysteries of life, the creation and the unseen. And in this capacity, he’s provided a cosmic and exotic earthly visual feast for the eyes of suspended menagerie, unfurled butterflies, flamed exotic fauna, aura pulsation chakras and spirit animals. So cosmic in fact that the group have decided to release the video to coincide with the new moon.

Identifying with myth, Violet Nox are however very much wired into the “now”, with messages of self-love and inclusiveness wafting and drifting to a rhythmic, wavy vision of EDM, crossover rave music and soulful electronica. For this newest venture – their first for the highly prolific and quality North American label Somewherecold Records – features, more than ever, the experimental, often effected, vocals of group member Noell Dorsey: a mix of hippie cooed yearn, Tracey Thorn, Claudia Brücken and Esbe if you will. A siren-in-the-machine, Dorsey expresses dreaminess, sadness and on this near mystical, wispy and lightly dub-y vision.

Often expanding the set-up, apparatus and lineup, this time around the Gaia attuned ensemble consists of core members Dez DeCarlo (on synth/effects pedals), foil Andrew Abrahamson (“synthesis”, sampler and clocked machines) and the already mentioned Dorsey. Musically, sonically both ‘Loki’ and the Vortex And Voices on which it appears keeps up the trance and minimal techno, melodic and kinetic rhythmic signatures, whilst erring towards club-like sung vocals and electronic pop. But it’s a real mix of synthesized influences, cybernetics and cosmic voyages into the internal and external mind.

You can read my previous review in full here…

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