Black Orchid, "Horizon"

Ascii.Disko's always been a bit touch n' go for me. Daniel Holc can pitch the odd quirky synthpop screwball, but he can also fall into an electro-by-numbers rut (as was the case when we peeped him at Kinetik) which, while not unpleasant, certainly doesn't reinvent the wheel, or stick trading cards to its spokes for that matter.

So, when I started doing some digging on Black Orchid, the name that was credited with crafting "Horizon", a delightfully dour tune about admiring a loved one's sleeping face in the pale blue cast of dawn that jumped out at me from an otherwise so-so compilation, I was (pleasantly) surprised to learn that Black Orchid is actually Holc's new side-project, which sees him returning to his post-punk roots. Further digging revealed that while a full-length Black Orchid album, "From Airlines To Lifelines", has been recorded, it's been cast into limbo by label drama (said digging also revealed that Holc evidently wasn't loving Final Scratch).

In the meantime, enjoy "Horizon". It's a pretty little thing which calls to mind a more sedate version of The Sound, or perhaps a less overwrought version of The Wake. Best not combine the two and produce a waking sound, lest Holc's dozing muse starts yawning and fumbling for her slippers, ruining the whole picturesque scene. (sorry)

Black Orchid, "Horizon"