Belgian-born Biesmans has not only found a literal home in Berlin, but he's also found a home for his music there too. His debut on Watergate Records, Trains, Planes & Automobiles, features two originals alongside a Fideles remix. Those unfamiliar with Biesmans' sound will immediately notice his penchant for producing splashy, prismatic, synth-driven tracks. Whether labelled indie, disco, house, or simply electronic, every one of Biesmans' tracks has an undeniable 80s allure. Playing into that theme, this new Watergate release harkens back to John Hughes' 1987 classic Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
Like the EP's inspiration, the title track has movement at its core, propelling itself ever forward. First, it chugs like a locomotive before breaking through the clouds, soaring high above it all, eventually coming back to earth only to get stuck in traffic, accosted by a chorus of car horns. Again like the EP's inspiration, the title track perfectly straddles the line between slapstick and sentimentality, thriving through its killer chemistry.
Following "Trains, Planes & Automobiles" is the Fideles remix which, if we're to stick to the old movie metaphors, feels like it fits more in the 90s. With a new breakbeat bed and industrial energy, it becomes grittier and altogether more brooding, shrouding the scintillating synth work in a thick fog. And from that darkness emerges the final piece of this retro trifecta, "Save The Night." A triumphant affair, its driving groove emulates the horizon, hiding the sun's radiance until its glorious glimmers finally grace our skin. The warmth of "Save The Night" rests right beneath the surface, threatening to break through at any moment, and when it does with the vocal hooks and swirling synths, there is little better feeling. It is like dancing in the rain, revelling in each resplendent drop.
Stream Trains, Planes & Automobiles below and get it from your preferred source here.
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