If you haven’t already heard of Scottish producer Tagavaka, then get ready for him to become one of your new favorite artists! Born Ivan Hall Barrientos, he is a classically trained pianist who has since turned to electronic music, releasing his debut self-titled EP in 2020 and instantly attracting the attention of artists such as Adam Port and Lane 8. Now, he is here to bring us his latest release Tagavaka – ETERNAL, the hotly anticipated album that only confirms all the critical praise this talented artist has received to date.
The album comprises eight expansive, multi-layered Ambient-inspired tracks, that also feature notes of House and Techno music. One track that exemplifies this mixture perfectly is SAVE YOU, which keeps things mellow and atmospheric for the build-up, before launching into a perfectly produced House beat for those drops. Among our other favorites are ABSORB, a beautifully calming track that ebbs and flows like gentle ocean waves, and GRAINS, that uses muted rhythms and a subtle build up of synth layers to craft an ethereal yet energizing four and a half minutes of music. Another standout track is album closer MEMORY; with its luscious string samples and delicate, intertwining synth arpeggiations, it is almost hypnotic in nature, leaving you wanting to go back and listen to the album all over again.
“ETERNAL is about exploring the emotions and memories that shape us, I wanted each track to feel like its own journey, using sound to reflect the complexities of life-from the delicate to the intense, the joyful to the melancholic. The album is deeply personal, yet the themes are universal”.
Tagavaka says of the album. All in all, we can’t help feeling that Tagavaka – ETERNAL will appeal to anyone who loves densely-layered electronic music that tells a deep, meaningful story.
