Chicago artist Angel Marcloid makes twisty, unpredictable electronic music under the name Fire-Toolz. Her music often involves growled death-metal vocals over shimmering synth-twinkles; it exists outside of all categories. After her 2024 album Breeze, Fire-Toolz signed to Warp Records, a natural home for such a futuristic producer. Her new album Lavender Networks comes out later this spring.
Lavender Networks features a bunch of contributions from collaborators, including Zola Jesus, Jennifer Holm, Brothertiger, Nailah Hunter, Lipsticism, and Sling Beam. I don't know who most of those people are — many of them, per the press release, are Fire-Toolz' close friends and family members — but those are some great names. The LP's lead single has the intentionally baffling title "Balam =^..^= Says IPv09082024 Strawberry Head," but I think you should listen to it anyway.
"Balam =^..^= Says IPv09082024 Strawberry Head" is a truly dizzying track that takes tons of twists and turns, to the point where describing it would almost mean spoiling it. Listening to it for the first time just now, I thought of both Rustie and Fuck Buttons, so consider that an endorsement. Below, check out that single and the album's absolutely absurd tracklist.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Quintessential Fixed Width Unfoldment" (feat. Zola Jesus, Brothertiger, & Nailah Hunter)
02 "Balam =^..^= Says IPv09082024 Strawberry Head"
03 "[CODENAME_SPARKLY LAGOON LAN LINE]" (feat. Lipsticism)
04 "Kiss The Bladed Cat, Find Ways To Stretch Time"
05 "A Demon & Its Spinal Cord Flapping In The Wind"
06 "And Where Is The Heart? I’ve Searched My Entire Home" (feat. Jennifer Holm)
07 "The Ocean Gratitude Cylinder Peace Necklace Lemonade Flying Free"
08 "Offshore ’92"
09 "Pleasant Valley Magic Cube Of Holiness" (feat. Sling Beam)
10 "Dear Robin Bears & Love Cloud ’24"
Lavender Networks is out 5/8 on Warp.
