Apifera - “Theodor Marmalade”
Photo by Shalev Ariel
From Israel, Apifera appear on the blog with their hypnotic brand of jazz-infused psychedelia: “Theodor Marmalade.”
The track is built upon a looping, rhythmic pulse provided by a barebones beat and accentuated by the consistent tones of clean electric guitar. The vibe is slightly reminiscent of Fugazi’s instrumental work, namely the 1993 cut, “Sweet And Low,” which happens to be one of the reasons we found ourselves completely enchanted with “Theodor Marmalade.”
The soft, deep notes from a bass soon arrive, anchoring to the kick drum and wonderfully fleshing out the rhythm section. With the bass, the vocal performance emerges, perfectly double-tracked as it weaves the tale of a man who escapes humanity in order to be one with nature, but then once again hungers for city life.
Ear candy is provided by gingerly effected lead guitar and the tones of keys, which gloriously reverberate and wash across the production like a dream. All of these sounds ultimately culminate on the song’s refrain: “Don’t you want to see the floating lights,” which brings a substantial sense of depth to the arrangement, as well as reveal the protagonist’s longing for society.
On the final third of “Theodor Marmalade,” a subtle vocal harmony rises to the surface, followed by a dynamic shift that dissolves into layers of synthy tones and abstract ambience before returning to the song’s mesmerizing groove. If you let it, this gentle, psychedelically-tinged tune will carry you away from all the perils of human existence and we recommend it as accompaniment for your quiet moments of introspection.