GATEKEEPER

Gatekeeper – ‘Serpent’

UPCOMING SHOWS

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Bloodlust and the dance-floor are not concepts that usually tend to go hand-in-hand. In the fantastic, densely elaborate world of NY-based electronic duo Gatekeeper however, the two are somehow inseparably inter-twined and indeed seem as if have always belonged together.

Inspired by the sounds and visions of forgotten b-movie film scores, classic fantasy games and lurid arcade imagery, the duo of Aaron David Ross and Matthew Arkell have created their own morbidly compelling discotheque, a vividly detailed flight of fancy in which the conventions of techno, Chicago house, industrial and italo-disco are transfigured into a singular phantasmagoric adventure populated by hushed screams, Gregorian dungeon chants and cinematic washes of mammoth sound.

Indeed, it is easy to understand why the bands early outings were sometimes dubbed “slasher-disco”. Meeting in Chicago in 2005 while studying in art-school, Ross and and Arkell began experimenting with different musical projects, but it was when they stumbled upon YouTube videos of electronic music pioneer Mark Shreeve covering John Carpenter that Gatekeeper discovered its’ true calling and inspiration ~ bringing the intensity and power of visual imagination to evocative, distinctly danceable musical realisation. Early tracks caught the ears of new Kompakt imprint ‘Fright’ , releasing the limited “Optimus Maximus” 12” EP last October, which was received with enthusiastic intrigue. The band also became noted for their unique live appearances, playing special installation-type locations while utilising a custom-made special effects light show from the talented Thunderhorse team.

Named after the historic Egyptian city known for its ancient monuments, their newest EP ‘Giza’ indeed finds the band advancing into more exotic, outlandish territory. It also sees them fusing their earlier disco leanings with a faster-paced, more club-oriented approach, as exemplified in the arcade biker theme of ‘Chains’, the haunted melody swirls of ‘Storm Column’ and ‘Serpent’, or the feverish, nightmare-ridden after-hours club romp of ‘Mirage’. Released December 6th on the ever progressive Merok Records, the label responsible for unearthing such cutting-edge talent as Crystal Castles, Salem, Titus Andronicus, Active Child and Teengirl Fantasy, ‘Giza’ provides a compelling showcase of Gatekeepers’ wonderfully fey imaginary world. Simultaneously celebratory and macabre, paranoid and darkly seductive, studied and deranged, it is one that will alternately make you want to move as well as cling to the edge of your seat.

A visual companion to the EP in the form of a specially packaged, limited edition video cassette featuring a corresponding video for every track will also be available, directed by the similarly dark-minded and frequent Gatekeeper collaborators Thunder Horse art collective, who have previously worked with artists such as Diplo, Kid Sister and Fools Gold.