SHOCK RIVER, the 2nd EP/Album by the indie electronic musician, Night Swimmer, is the second official release by Field Ring Records. Continuing his quintessentially retrospective nostalgia, this EP delves deeper into the world of analog synth sounds, along with some lo-fi noises and samples newly instilled into its soundscape. These new tricks would make the ordinary sounds of analog synth more tangible and experimental, thus helping create a real, perceptible scene shrouded in vapor, maze and fluids.

Drifting apart from the descriptive music styles in his previous album, SHAN SHUI, SHOCK RIVER attempts to present a virtual experience that will give the listeners real sensuous stimulation. For this purpose, the whole track list follows the formula of shooting a film, from the 1st track ａｃｔｉｏｎ！to the closing track 杀青（Kill the Blues）, creating collisions and clashes between styles and speeds, thus strengthening the melodramatic and cinematic qualities. People might find this EP more like a film made of lo-fi homemade footages, with seemingly illogical transitions of emotions placed in between. This EP also pays a tribute to the works of the movie director, David Lynch, such as Mulholland Dr. and Twin Peaks. After listening the whole EP, it’s likely that you may feel like having experienced a deep sleep, in which sounds and images of real world and the dream world mingle and converge.

The title, SHOCK RIVER, means floating sentiments in Chinese, yet the English translation transformed the initial meaning into “a river of feelings, experiences, thoughts and dreams”. This translation actually derived its idea from a well-known New Age band named Enigma, whose single, Rivers of Belief, quite informed the English title for this EP. Every track in SHOCK RIVER delivers a sentiment：track 4, 塑料金（Plastic Gold）, expresses the resent of being unable to be recognized in his music career; track 8, ｓｕｐｅｒｃｕｔ, tries to retrieve childhood memories and joy; the final track, 杀青（Kill the Blues），delays the melancholy through pianos and flute. All the instruments and production thus frame a slow-flowing virtual river of emotions and dreams, which exactly corresponds to the EP title.

This EP will be released on limited edition tapes (25 only). It will be available directly from the label or at Sense Club Recordsshop.


Field Ring Records presents;
All tracks written, produced, and mixed by Night Swimmer (Synth, Guitar, Sampler);
Recorded by Night Swimmer;
Artwork & Design by Shilin Ruan & Night Swimmer; Tape by Nugget Records.