Back in stock, the 2012 debut full-length from Austin-based electronic quartet S U R V I V E is available once again with yellow and black alternate artwork. A fresh U.S. repress is in high demand for this modern classic, as the band enjoys a recent surge in notoriety on the heels of members Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein’s soundtrack work on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. Recorded from 2010-2012 at the band’s own Omniverse Studios in Austin, this record chronicles the early days of the group as they developed and defined their familiar yet original style of dark soundscapes. This record’s full spectrum of synth-based composition returns to LP and cassette, with CD and limited clear and black-colored vinyl editions available for the first time. S U R V I V E ’ s debut full-length marks the culmination of countless sessions recording and crafting a remarkable balance of songwriting and experimentation. The band’s signature sound is a combination of vintage and modern synthesizers, recorded live and carefully processed to draw character out of every enriched sound wave before joining the mix. Originally released in 2012 on Berlin-based Mannequin Records, S U R V I V E ’ s premiere is a fusion of reserved minimalism and lucid hooks. Underlined by the band’s uncompromising standards in sound design, this album maintains a damaged quality that is nuanced and cohesive across all nine emotive tracks. Ambient pieces such as “To Light Alone I Bow” and “Deserted Skies” are beautiful hybrids of harmony and tension that represent the record as a multifaceted work of both mood and melody. In contrast, the cold and brutally propulsive pair of singles “Hourglass” and “Omniverse” are strikingly addictive, making their way onto the soundtrack of the 2014 feature horror film The Guest, directed by Adam Wingard.
Holodeck Records is proud to once again re-issue this accomplished and thorough work on all physical formats on November 18, 2016.