Zones premieres "Wine Cop" video by Australian surrealist animator Benjamin Portas with Tiny Mix Tapes
ZONES premieres “Wine Cop” video with Tiny Mix Tapes Toronto record release rave at The Dance Cave on Nov. 22nd
The State of Light out now from Hand Drawn Dracula
ZONES (Photo: Andrew McGill)
WATCH: ZONES – “Wine Cop”
on Tiny Mix Tapes / YouTube
Today, Toronto’s electronic psych-pop artist ZONES premieres the mind-melting video for his latest single “Wine Cop” with Tiny Mix Tapes. Created by Australian surrealist animator Benjamin Portas, the video takes viewers on a terrestrial voyage through Dali-esque alien landscapes, while the song features a guest performance from saxophonist Colin Fisher (Bernice, Caribou, Not The Wind Not The Flag). Portas has previously earned acclaim for his video collaborations with artists including Courtney Barnett, John Grant, and ZONES’ Hand Drawn Dracula labelmates Beliefs, Dusted, and Fresh Snow.
To celebrate the release of his sophomore album, The State of Light, out now from revered indie label Hand Drawn Dracula, ZONES have announced a Toronto record release rave at The Dance Cave on Thursday, November 22nd. This event will feature performances from New Chance (Bedroomer, Healing Power Records), Daniel Benjamin (Arbutus Records), and World News (Safe Sounds).
Prolific producer and multimedia artist Derek McKeon (a.k.a. ZONES) has been finely crafting his tape warped psych jams since 2012. After six years full of touring and bubbling up in underground music scenes, he has now returned with his third album, The State of Light, mixed and mastered by acclaimed DJ/producer Brandon Hocura (Lido Pimienta, Austra, Seance Centre Records). The album’s release was announced with Vinyl Williams’ interactive video for lead single “The Syzygy”, which premiered with Self-Titled and earned ZONES acclaim for his “melted crayon melodies.”
ZONES’ The State of Light sends listeners on a dense 45-minute sonic trip cutting through the rainbow fog of McKeon’s previous releases to deliver a highly focused hi-fi reinvention. Fusing sounds from ’70s/80s funk and disco with his signature tape warbled wah wah psych pushes the LP into a fresh landscape wholly of its own. Its seven tracks of neon lit, zoomed out, and abstracted boogie grooves shift in and out of focus while the hypnotic pop hooks wiggle their way into your subconscious.
The album opens with the slomo electric boogie of “Elevation” and acts as the perfect introduction to the new ZONES world. Mid tempo, loose, and chunky drum machines with a wormy g-funk bassline holds it down, while pitch bending midi flute solos ride on top of analog synthesizer goop. Tracks like “Wine Cop” and “The Syzygy” imagine rare Herbie Hancock b-sides played at the wrong speed and coated in an iridescent psychedelic glaze. Each song radiates with the distinctive ZONES sound in a lush sonic environment amidst deep undulating rhythms. This is ZONES at his funkiest and the outcome is his most groove heavy record to date.
ZONES’ The State of Light is now available here from Hand Drawn Dracula.
More information on the album and upcoming live performances can be found below.
ZONES Live Performances
Nov. 22nd – Toronto, ON – The Dance Cave (Album Release)
with New Chance, Daniel Benjamin, World News
ZONES – The State of Light Tracklisting
1. Elevation
2. Further
3. Wine Cop
4. Magick Hour
5. Growing
6. Maintain
3. The Syzygy
Press Photo 1 (Andrew McGill)
Press Photo 2 (Andrew McGill)
Press Photo 3 (Andrew McGill)
ZONES Bandcamp
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