Cetacean recordings, lo-fi texture and a short, euphoric run — nostalgia assembled from unusually literal materials.
UK duo North 90, a project spearheaded by producers Becca Frankland and Josh Cherry, release ‘Underground Fantasy’. The EP is a euphoric, short-form journey rooted in nostalgia and a subtly lo-fi aesthetic, defined by underwater, aquatic elements achieved through the clever use of cetacean synth pads that wash over the mix like oceanic swells.
Inspired by the early ’90s UK house and rave era, the project wears its origins and influences on its sleeve, paying homage to pioneering electronic acts like 808 State, A Guy Called Gerald, LFO, and Altern 8. There is a profound connection to the crossover between post-punk and rave that defined Manchester in the late ’80s and early ’90s, channeling the psychedelic, groove-heavy vibes of bands like The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.
The rhythm section is firmly grounded in classic, dancefloor-driven 4/4 house beats. The EP features three tracks, kicking off with the title track, ‘Underground Fantasy’, with sweeping, resonant synth pads, the track creates an underwater fluidity over a bit-crushed, vintage, boxy kick drum, capturing that essence of the first hour of a rave. Layered with whispered, acid-house-inspired vocal gasps that taps into the sensual energy of the 1990–1996 underground club era.
