Luxembourg trio «Quantum Dot» has just released a new EP, the brooding «Random Causalities».
Fusing sublime electronica with heartfelt song writing «Random Casualties» is the perfect Nordic soundscape exploring the depths of destructive relationships and the spirituality of life’s meaning. It’s the first body of work since their 2016 buoyant debut album ‘Deschooling Society’ and for this new project they’ve enlisted «When ‘Airy Met Fairy singer-songwriter Thorunn Egilsdottir to supply her effortless dream-like vocal over the duo’s intricately crafted production.
The EP opens with the uplifting «Fast Forward», equipped with a congregation of melancholic violins it’s about seeing the positive in everything, no matter how hard life can hit us. The sweet, carefree allure of new single «Breaking Bones» at first feels like a gentle heartbreak ditty, until you dig into the track’s gritty lyrics to uncover a rather disturbing narrative which describes the terrible consequences that a man has to endure after breaking a woman’s heart.
Thorunn’s vocals are at their most vulnerable in delicate piano-driven «Okay» – a liberating anthem about the acceptance of the impermanence of life. «Moments come and go and nothing is permanent», explains «Quantum Dot». «Whoever we are, whatever we do, we must live in the present moment». The track is a reminder to confront negative emotions in order to power through to the brighter side.
Previous single, «Riverbed Sleep» tells the story of a woman’s quest to find her husband in some ominous forest. What she doesn’t know is that his return is unlikely, and that grieving is all that’s left. An assortment of sombre lyrics reference back to WWII and the pain of lovers forced to part ways, made all the more powerful thanks to Thorunn’s haunting vocals. Switching the mood with EP closer «Killerlove», we travel back to the band’s bouncy-pop era that was proudly embraced with their debut album. Touching on how attraction can very quickly lead to obsession, the track sends a strict message on how love should always be a selfless act.
Quantum Dot was formed in Brussels in 2014 by Lionel Jeusette and Patrick Ribeiro. Experimenting with real instruments (bass, guitar, piano, and violin) which they then digitally rework and mix with electronic instruments, their style is characterised by the melding of pop, 1980 style synths and a more contemporary industrial sound influenced by the likes of Paul Kalkbrenner and Sohn. They released their first EP in 2015 and debut album «Deschooling Society» in 2016. Quantum Dot have built their following by performing across Europe including sell out shows in Luxembourg, Belgium, France and Germany.
