Niven's new EP Van is a masterpiece. Not only because of his exciting sound, but because of how he’s shaped this new release, showing that it doesn't take a lot of resources to do a great job. With the four tracks within being composed with little more than a small modular synth in the back of a van as the artist traversed Europe in recent years, it evidences the extensive knowledge of the artist and the lessons he has learned throughout his career, as well as like his ability to surpass himself.
“Tracks were written in Ireland, France and Bulgaria and I couldn't be happier for them to finally be out in the world,” Niven shared on his Instagram profile with his followers while announcing the official release of his new work, Van. An EP that, as his name indicates, is committed to 4 tracks written in 2022 and 2023 while travelling in his old Ford transit van. Snow, Rositsa Walks, Woods and Château Gaillard are the four tracks that make up this masterpiece of sound, which comes after a 5-year hiatus from putting out his own music.
What's even more impressive is that all four songs on the Van were recorded in one take. A major challenge resulting from having nothing more than a car battery to rely on for power. Woods, the single that opens the latter half of the project which sees the producer working in the back of his van with the doors open, mirrors the untamed expansiveness of the west coast of Ireland. We recommend listening to the EP several times to analyse it in detail since, as the British electronic producer and visionary says, “the locations I was in influenced the music as well as the limitations of the setup.”
What's even more impressive is that all four songs on the Van were recorded in one take. A major challenge resulting from having nothing more than a car battery to rely on for power. Woods, the single that opens the latter half of the project which sees the producer working in the back of his van with the doors open, mirrors the untamed expansiveness of the west coast of Ireland. We recommend listening to the EP several times to analyse it in detail since, as the British electronic producer and visionary says, “the locations I was in influenced the music as well as the limitations of the setup.”
