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Add to playlist: the fluid club deconstructions of Stolen Velour, Floco and Aria SL and the week’s best new tracks
The Guardian's "Add to Playlist" column highlights south London trio Stolen Velour, Floco and Aria SL, whose debut album Underlight is out now on Bristol label Illegal Data. The three began as housemates in south-east London, where their contrasting sounds bled through the walls, and their music takes a fluid, "liquid" approach to deconstructing club music, with elements that seem to sink, dissolve or float on the surface.
The trio pooled their production ideas before adding individual signatures: Floco's violin, Aria SL's bel canto vocals and Stolen Velour's clubbier production. Following last year's ambient EP Holdfast, Underlight ranges across trip-hop, amapiano and gqom textures on tracks such as Caught Myself, Moment, I Want and Loch, and includes a clean cover of Lilium, the theme from the manga Elfen Lied. The column also rounds up the week's best new tracks from Radie Peat, Biita Houdei, Kelela and PinkPantheress, RenzNiro, Gilla Band, Edgar and Slow Pulp.
Explained simply
The Guardian's "Add to Playlist" column, which recommends new music to readers, has this week featured a south London trio called Stolen Velour, Floco and Aria SL. The three musicians released their debut album Underlight on the Bristol label Illegal Data, and their work takes an experimental approach to club music.
The trio met as housemates in south-east London, where they developed their collaborative sound by combining their individual skills and styles. Floco contributes violin, Aria SL provides vocals, and Stolen Velour handles the production, creating what the group describes as a "liquid" approach that deconstructs club music rather than simply following its typical patterns.
The album draws from several electronic music genres including trip-hop, amapiano and gqom, showing the group's range and experimental attitude. The column's weekly roundup also features new releases from other emerging artists, providing listeners with a curated selection of contemporary music across different styles.