Kllo’s ‘Downfall’ is a lustrous electronic-pop reminder to take a breather, helped along by the airy textures of the duo’s newest single. As the cousins Chloe Kaul and Simon Lam recall, “We wrote it on a balcony in Croatia overlooking the water. It was very beautiful there, warm and still… It’s a reminder to not get too caught up in your head, to not dwell on the negative things.” Kllo’s spacious synths, continuous beats and affecting female vocal lead are reminiscent of minimalist electronic experts The xx, but there’s an echo of underground club music with bassy whomps, modulation, pitched-up vocal clips, and the use of sustain. Far from your average, Kllo showcase just how intelligent electronica should sound, a theme sure to rule over their debut album Backwater, to be released on October 20th via Ghostly International (North America), Different Recordings (Europe, Japan) and Good Manners (AU/NZ). - HT