Ahead of his forthcoming debut EP, Hopium, German artist Korora has just unveiled his single, In The Open.
Opening with stark tones and the chiming of bells and keys, In The Open brings together a beautiful combination of crisp, clear melodies and warm bass notes. Percussion crunches like frosted leaves as elastic synths slide and twist in on themselves, all of it underpinning layers of vocals that glide across the surface with the aesthetic of polished metal skating across glass. Those vocals come from Berlin musician Schwarz, whose performance is a buoy of humanity, around which the instrumentation swells, and the crisp melodies flow from Korora’s self-built glockenspiel organ.
The overall result is a piece of music that is considered and poised, yet packs emotional depth. Lyrics hint at an apprehensive sense of vulnerability and exposure, where the self is laid bare. Played up close on headphones, there is an almost overwhelming feeling of intimacy and detail to In The Open.
Having already received praise from the likes of Ólafur Arnalds, Korora appears set for great things. The EP Hopium will be one to look out for when it is released.