Children of a period of isolation and uncertainty caused by the pandemic, Purelink would probably sound different in another historical and social context. With no venues to play in and faced with an inevitable and complex break in the mundane rhythm, it was in a New York apartment that they created a veritable laboratory of infinite sounds. The constant soothing effervescence they capture opened up a privileged channel for surprising molecular experimentation — strangely organic, considering the digital equipment they use. By reconfiguring many of the standardized patterns that the ambient music sphere had become accustomed to, they were able to create community, work, and identity with only three albums under their belt.
However, in all honesty, Tommy Paslaski, Ben Paulson, and Akeem Asani are not just a band—at least in the most traditional sense. United by a lasting bond of friendship and solid individual careers, they make Purelink a joint base for creative sharing. The multiple collaborations and releases they have been involved in reflect not only the importance but also the urgency of this collective communication. Tuning into frequencies left behind by the Basic Channel catalog, they dilute dub echoes, shoegaze melodies, and mid-tempo house allusions, building their own language.
This work of treating sound as raw material has reached new stages, album after album. The most recent, Faith, opens an unprecedented page, broader and more ambitious than ever. By inviting Loraine James and Angelina Nonaj to lend their voices to a sound tapestry they have already coined as their own, they expand their aesthetic universe without giving up their constructed identity. Although the vocal presence may initially provoke some reluctance—especially in light of their previous work and the risk of yielding to more conventional formats—it is the astral journey that continues to fascinate Purelink’s instincts. And with them, we follow.
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Usof is an artist pushing the definition of “ambient” music into more convoluted territory. His discography includes “stay longer” on Australia’s Theory Therapy and “Wish You Were Nicer” on America’s enmossed and Psychic Liberation, preceded by the “Selections 0, 1, and 2” series on Rotten \ Fresh and the EP “refresh” on surf, his own netlabel. He has performed at various European venues/festivals such as Cafe OTO, Waking Life, Les Siestes Électroniques, Outfest, among many others. He has remixes, live recordings, mixtapes, and singles released on various labels. In addition to his work as a visual artist and sound engineer, he promotes events with the collectives Living Room and Tundra. Finally, he presents the program “for 0” on Rádio Quântica and surf’s residency on Kiosk Radio.