Kayla Painter crafts transcendent, ambient techno on the inventive "efa"

It's another assured effort from the Bristol-based musician, whose fine ear for experimental soundscapes caught the attention of BBC 6 Music's electronic music aficionado Mary Anne Hobbs earlier this year. "efa" is the follow up to Kayla's first Turnstile release, "Revert". Despite the ambient excellence of that, this new release is a much more intriguing track and feels like a true statement of intent from Kayla. It's an eerie journey that begins with deep bass and handclaps before building in intensity. The atmosphere is very dark and sounds like something Sigur Rós might have created had they been born on an estate in Bristol next door to DMZ producer Mala. A real atmospheric flourish occurs as samples of breathing - which add an intriguing spin - add a soothing yet sinister, unsettling sound. Explaining "efa"'s distinctive visuals, Kayla says: "It was created with the dream essence in mind, wanting to explore the relationship between two elements, all the while never being sure exactly what is there. The track and video explore the relationship between real and unreal through the narrative of a modern day fairy tale.” Kayla's idea for it works really well and her interest in consciousness appears to help her create sound that, subsequently, is poised to be the go-to ambient techno for people seeking transcendence through music. 6 Music will be all over this. Check out her live dates below. March 6 - Band On The Wall, Manchester (International Womens' Day showcase) May 7 - Old Market Assembly, Bristol June 22 - 26 - Glastonbury Festival, Somerset July 29 - 30 - Farmfest, Somerset Find out more: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram