‘Turning (Inside Out)’ is the new 12” dance single from Arbutus Records, a collaboration between Canadian synthpop artist Moon King and Baltimore production team Visors, with added vocals from fellow Bmore rapper DDM and saxophone from the enigmatic St Charles.
The ‘pandemic-era online collab’ has given us some strange and unlikely gems, of which this record is certainly one - a mesmerizing mid-tempo groove with Moon King and DDM’s call and response vocals floating above, culminating in a catchy chorus: ‘feels like turning inside out, when I need you there, you’re not around’.
B-side ‘Out Of Control’ again pairs Moon King’s vocals with an instrumental from Visors, showcasing the production team’s meticulous 80’s radio-style pop craftsmanship, reminiscent of Stock, Aitken & Waterman or Pet Shop Boys, and if this record is any indication, giving us a lot to look forward to for their future projects.
‘Turning (Inside Out)’ marks a continuation of Moon King’s partnership with Arbutus Records, following 2017’s breakout single ‘In & Out’. In the early 2010’s, Daniel was a part of the flourishing electronic music scene in Montreal, performing as a touring musician with Grimes, Sean Nicholas Savage and Doldrums, all while beginning to write & produce his own music. A 2016 move to Detroit and immersion in that city’s vibrant dance music and DJ culture soon began to influence his own recordings, embracing a signature blend of underground disco and effervescent synthpop.
Visors is the brainchild of musician and producer Jeff Martin, along with DJ and producer Daniel Biltmore, both longtime denizens of the music industry looking for an opportunity to channel their energies into a new project inspired by the restlessness of quarantine. Influenced by producer-led projects of the 90’s and early 2000’s such as U.N.K.L.E and Gorillaz, as well as his time spent in the new-wave and post-punk world at the helm of Baltimore-Based band The Heavycoats, Martin began writing his own music in 2021. He would eventually recruit Biltmore to round out the duo, who previously spent over a decade under the tutelage of super-producer/Grammy winner Chad Hugo of The Neptunes/N*E*R*D. Equally grounded by their new-wave and synth-pop pedigree as they are by the emergence of punk, hip-hop, and skate culture, Visors serves as a platform for the musicians to fuse the disparate elements that made them who they are, and allow their sound to blossom into something completely new. Freestyle 808 clicks sit right next to ghostly saxophone lines; sizzled Moog synths are wrapped around peak-Chic guitar frenzy – anything is fair game for Visors’ unique pop sensibilities. Working with emerging artists such as Toronto’s Moon King, Baltimore’s DDM, as well as a multitude of secret behind-the-scenes luminaries, Visors have officially invaded planet Earth.
supported by 6 fans who also own “Turning (Inside Out) / Out Of Control”
A truly stunning album that mentally transports you to foggy early morning streets, the pavement wet from recent rains. Dreary, but in a comforting way. Like sitting next to a window during a rainstorm, listening to the drops hit the glass while remaining warm. Never fails to make me feel safe. Crow Yo
On their 10th record, the Glasgow-based group serves up more wonderfully menacing, gothy synthpop, perfect for dungeon dancing. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 19, 2023
Dark electrowave from Italy with ice-cold rhythms and synths as spooky as an underground dungeon in the dead of night. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 6, 2023