Ian Munro is one of the biggest up-and-coming acts coming out of the AUS/NZ scene. And that’s a real accomplishment with how fiercely the AUS/NZ scene pumps out artists of high-tier caliber. Having released his debut EP in 2017 with UZ’s label, Quality Goods Records, he’s gone on to release with Bitbird and has completed a headlining tour. It’s clear to see that Ian has a bright future ahead of him, and he’s making his mark with his second EP, titled Liminal.
Liminal feels like the culmination of what Ian Munro has been working towards the past two years. His sound has slowly changed over time from heavy bangers, like ‘Lost In You,’ to more future bass oriented tracks, like ‘Fever Dream’. Watching him develop his sound over the past three years has been incredible and Liminal pushes the boundaries of future bass as Ian takes you on a journey full of ethereal vibes and heartfelt sounds.
Liminal begins with ‘Palimpsest’, which is an incredible introduction to Ian’s new sound, filled with soft, calming vocals and thick atmosphere. ‘Murmur’ is a stand out track on the EP; starting with dreamy vocals, it crashes into an emotional, lush synth that takes the listeners’ breath away. ‘Rush’ feat. Still Haze is the most experimental track off Liminal, imploring wonky synths that collide together to produce a beautiful sort of chaos over a sliding, uplifting melody. Paired with the vocals in the second drop, Ian has created a masterpiece of sound with this track. Possibly one of the most anticipated tracks off Liminal would be Ian’s collab with trap don and Quality Goods Records founder, UZ. ‘Without Me’ featuring Somber is a serenade of arpeggiated synths that pairs marvelously with Somber’s vocals on the track. Finally, we come to ‘Again, Again’, the single he released prior to the EP. Full of moving vocals, the track veers off course at the drop and erupts into a ocean of disconnected sounds that Ian has managed to stitch together. The contrast Ian Munro creates in ‘Again, Again’ is one of the most alluring parts of the entire track, and possibly the most interesting piece in the entire project.
Liminal is an awe-inspiring piece of work and it’s clear to see why this took two years for Ian to put out. He’s really pushing the post-future bass sound and delivering it in full force. With half of 2019 left, it’s an exciting time to see what he’ll do next.
Ian has also created a visual experience to accompany his Liminal EP, which you can watch below.
Buy Ian Munro’s sophomore EP, ‘Liminal’ here and stream it below.
