“Everything you do or learn will be imprinted on this disc. If you lose your disc or fail to follow commands, you will be subject to immediate de-resolution.”

Between reality and our dreams is a buffer that prohibits us from controlling either from the other. Though we wish we could tap into one while in the realm of the other we cannot; at least not consciously.

Dublin’s Nanobot may hold the key to linking reality with the dream state. And they do it via music. With their debut album Plastic Alley they form spires of retro sounds which hold up ornate ceilings incorporating airy, drifting sounds painted with strong presence.

I sought these guys out when I stumbled across their Sparticles EP in early 2011. Those years ago I was massively impressed by their seemingly overqualified credentials but equally drawn to their ability to impart their level of intellect into their creativity. Now, I know that they had room to grow and the blossoming ten tracks it became are stunning. Plastic Alley finely balances electronic beats, which uncharacteristically play support, with complementing vocals and hints at nostalgic technology. Every track plays seamlessly to one another, not that it is meant to be some Waters-esc vision, but that the dream-like state Dessie Keegan, Stephen Caffrey, Ross Dillon and David Keegan craft is like embarking in a Tron-style fantasy that lifts you out of the conscious and into a dimension meticulously carved out of synth progressions intertwining 8 and 16-bit pops. Electronic yes, dance no. The reflective qualities of Nanobot make their work easy to listen to in all sorts of scenarios without restricting it to some old church-turned-nightclub-and-all-ages-Thursdays. Basically, we don’t need French robots, we need Irish Nanobot.

Even without meticulously breaking down every aspect of sound to justify exactly how Nanobot can develop their dream sound in full consciousness, it is easy to see that three years after their EP their skills have only gotten better. While I hope I don’t have to wait as long for a follow up, I wouldn’t mind with tracks like these. The album artwork was done by Laura De Burca and you can get the album here for a steal.

Greg is a regular contributor and co-founder at Nanobot. While he does not consider himself a HUGE electronic fan, this record may have him thinking otherwise.