Van Sur Les delivers something far more profound than a conventional electronic release with Ingrian Tape. Based in Amsterdam and deeply connected to his Ingrian heritage through his grandfather, the artist makes an EP that exists at the crossroads of contemporary electronic music and endangered cultural memory. Instead of merely preserving history, he breathes new life into it, transforming disappearing voices into living, evolving compositions. Influenced by the organic electronica of Kiasmos, Christian Löffler, Bonobo, and Ólafur Arnalds while embracing the meditative decay of William Basinski, Van Sur Les creates an immersive sonic landscape where memory, language, and identity intertwine.
One of the EP’s standout moments is “Kadoi,” which has already surpassed 7,000 Spotify streams. Built around archival recordings of legendary Ingrian folk singer Kadoi Alexandrova, the track effortlessly bridges generations. Gentle piano notes shimmer like rippling water before soft electronic beats gradually emerge, their subtle persistence carrying the piece forward. The singer’s soothing high-register vocal glides over softly jittering percussion while a heavy electronic drone slowly thickens the atmosphere. Later, a haunting flute, echoing the improvisational spirit of Teppo Repo, adds an ethereal dimension, allowing the archival voice to exist as a vibrant presence within a modern composition.
The emotional narrative continues beautifully with “Tapio,” featuring Finnish folk singer Emmi Kuittinen. Warm, dreamy synth textures sparkle above delicate tapping beats before richer electronic pulses and harder-hitting rhythms gradually bloom. Kuittinen’s expressive, full-bodied vocals soar effortlessly, carrying newly composed Ingrian runo-song into the present. It’s a striking balance between tradition and innovation, allowing ancient vocal traditions to coexist naturally alongside contemporary production without losing their authenticity.
Meanwhile, “Soikkola” shifts toward a more acoustic palette born from the artist’s own period of illness and introspection. Upright bass, hammered dulcimer, subtle piano, rustling percussion, and writhing strings create an intimate dialogue with electronic textures instead of simply decorating them. The arrangement feels fluid, imperfect, and deeply human.
Throughout Ingrian Tape, Van Sur Les invites listeners to experience fragments of language, memory, and identity through hypnotic rhythms and carefully sculpted atmospheres.
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Review by: Naomi Joan