Entering the room with their debut EP, “Invisible Hand,” Los Angeles quartet LOCH brings to life their amalgamation of psychedelic electronic post-punk as they design a glitchy dystopian soundscape.
Loch begins the conversation with a gorgeous five-track journey that spawned out of instincts and crafted out of accidents as they fearlessly locate themselves exactly where they want to be: in their own world.
Loch is the collaborative brainchild of the Valle Brothers: guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Nathan and bassist Andres. While Nathan spent time playing live techno duo, 138, Andres joined and continues to play with multiple acts such as The Jancos, Shoeboxblue, Radio Temple, and Mi Mellow Dia.
Although they are bonded by blood and proximity, their musical journeys did not cross until late 2023. According to Nathan, “I think the motivation to start LOCH came from the urge to start a band for sometime. It just felt like the right time to start this project at the end of 2023. My brother loves funk; I love electronic music, and we both wanted to make something that wasn’t boring or be put in a box. I need to be excited, so making things without too much structure and randomness felt right.”
Invisible Hand constructs a cacophonous collage of scintillating movement motivated by ritualistic sensations. The opening track, Invisible Hand, raises the curtains with an anomalous disorder of metallic clanks that move around a dark celestial dreamworld. Manufactured by Nathan’s intuition, his synthetic ensemble reproduces a tumultuous balance that breathes influences such as The Pop Group and Throbbing Gristle with political overtones.
As the record develops, the stability of the rhythm section bounds the fastidious forms of disorganization. Drummer Derek Holub (French Cunt) transforms consistency into physical discipline as his krautrock-esque force glues the madness with the help of Andres’ heavy bass licks that are found in tracks like “Perfect Scheme” and “Cosmic Microwave.” The unflinching weight of the big-beat marks a staple sound as Nathan’s collection of violent-functioning delay swirls with dimensionality as nodes of Public Image Ltd come alive.
The evolution persists with explosive energy as the compositions set the stage for the raw volatility of singer Kristine Nevrose (SOH. The Tissues). Remodeling her platform as a podium, Nevrose unleashes a seductive demonic spirit that is hungry for vindication. Their single, “Spiritual Spouse,” perfectly demonstrates her power as she conducts a sonic seance that is viciously pure. Screaming, “Lead me into the abyss. Sacrificial bliss. Spiritual Spouse,” her visceral expression adds a vibrant color that expounds Loch’s titillating mysticism.
Invisible Hand was a Frankenstein project that started in Nathan’s bedroom in Whittier, CA. It was then brought to my studio, Machinehouse Audio in Orange, CA, where I was hired to engineer drums, vocals, and mix the project, but that was only the beginning. Throughout the mixing stage, I became a co-producer with Nathan. With several production styles in mind, we experimented for eight months as we methodically pieced this puzzle together. I would say, “it feels like we are mixing punk songs like techno tracks.” We were excited to break all the rules as Nathan and I watched his vision evolve, with no idea of when or what the finish line looked like. To say the least, the project was a humbling experience that felt sacred and inspiring, and for that, I am truly grateful.
Invisible Hand is a sonic Pollock tapestry that ostensibly displays outwardly radical decisions, but ultimately sculpted by intentionality. Its turbulent compositions are spellbinding. Garnished with brotherly synergy, “ravenous character,” and willpower, the four-piece allowed the notes to fall where they may as instinct became their northstar through the chaos and confusion of choice.
