Topdown Dialectic FALSE LP A False Aralia

Emerging from the orbit of the Los Angeles-based Peak Oil label, False Aralia has become a truly unique gem of electronic music since its founding in 2024. This new piece marks their seventh release, all by the same artist: photographer and sound artist Izaak Schlossman, who has used a new alias for each single, such as Zero Key, Selfsame, Externalism, Iri.gram, Vehicular, and Borgesian Term. FALSE LP A marks his first album on what is essentially his own imprint, and it is also his first release under his Topdown Dialectic alias on False Aralia—having previously appeared on Peak Oil and labels from its inner circle like Tailings or /\Aught.

For those who remember the phasing sound from the days of pre-wireless headphones that were not completely plugged into an MP3 player or iPod, Schlossman’s sound aesthetics might trigger a nostalgic flashback. It is an absolutely playful way of using distorted, flickering treble mixed with ambient soundscapes, embedded in weightless sketches of Dub and House. Listening to the full eighty minutes of the album in one sitting is an absolutely immersive trip, yet incredibly calming at the same time. It evokes an image of grandmasters like Vladislav Delay or Jan Jelinek going into the studio with Beatrice Dillon, being deeply inspired by Loidis aka Huerco S.’s fetishism of low-kbps aesthetics.

Besides these unique sound aesthetic, Schlossman keeps a low profile, avoiding social media and focusing on his work as a photographer and musician. Furthermore, what is particularly worth mentioning on this new album is the release's info text and the duration of each track. The info text is not true to its name at all, as it basically gives no typical information about the release at first glance; instead, it is a piece of poetry just as immersive and mysterious as the album itself and the artist's approach to public perception.
The same applies to the detail that all tracks are exactly five minutes long. This might appear somewhat random, but the fact that all sixteen tunes sound so cohesive, and not even one feels hastily arranged to achieve the magic five minutes, is proof of concept rather than a mere accident.

Enjoy your trip!