For someone that’s been following vaporwave since the early days (2012, which is in relative terms, ancient history for the genre), ESPRIT 空想 is a familiar name and one with plenty of quality associated with it. Even among vapor contemporaries of the time, ESPRIT 空想 (the side-project of the very rad George Clanton) stood out for its use of original composition and lack of samples, timeless in its own way but still on the pulse. I can think back to making vaporwave around that time and even then, many people didn’t realize that fact. Six years later, ESPRIT 空想 is still moving on, chill as ever and many new acts are also on the same wavelength with completely original production. Pioneer or not, the vibes are still killer.
Six years is a long time for web music, enough so that ESPRIT 空想 pretty much has a canon now of its own. Last year’s release of 200% Electronica, a warm daydream splashed with some of Clanton’s samples from 100% Electronica, came paired with a video for “Flounder 202” that’s at best described as Beyond the Mind’s Eye meets Burning Man. In a fun way, of course. George is firmly in the driver seat of a Lambo this year with a new tour and release in the headlights but in his wake, we get a lovely (overdue) sequel: “Play That Thing Again” by Mattematrix and Dennis Vera.
Our sunglass-adorned voyager from the “Flounder 202” makes his return and while there’s a definite lack of crystal polygon eagles, it more than compensates with neoclassical idylls, chrome and neon stained. With ESPRIT 空想, Clanton set out to bring his own talents to vaporwave. In the process, he’s left behind a marbled beaut for its halls. I can’t think of a more apt representation of that than this soul-warming sequel.