Following the success of his double singles “Starlings/Seven Crows” and “Shiver/Fireflies,” classically-trained beatmaker Marley Carroll continues his journey with “Migration/Monarch.”
The release marks the third pairing of tracks from his upcoming LP Flight Patterns, set to arrive on November 16, 2018, via Loci Records.
“Migration” introduces listeners to stuttering breakbeats layered with atmospheric melodies, moody keyboards, sparkling chimes, and filtered breaths.
The composition feels lush, cinematic, and tinged with melancholy, bridging both human and animal elements.
Read more: Del Horno & SONJA Drop Energetic Track “Get Your Hands”
How Marley Carroll Crafted The Tracks?
Marley explained that the track reflects the necessity of adapting to change, which he views as one of nature’s unshakable truths.
He added that both humans and birds now share the reality of facing an uncertain future.
Shifting the mood, “Monarch” raises the tempo with ambient house rhythms, funky electronic blips, shimmering harp chords, and nature samples.
The piece unfolds like a romantic dance, carried by an undeniable groove and ending with a jazzy, cosmic riff.
Marley revealed that the track drew inspiration from the epic migration of monarch butterflies.
He wanted the music to mirror the endurance of their journey.
It also needed to reflect the natural rhythm that guides them through the skies.
To achieve this, he imagined the fluttering clouds of orange wings.
He translated that image into sound, weaving harp glissandos with layered chord clusters.
The result is a piece that carries both motion and color, just like the butterflies themselves.
For him, the song flows with a sense of ease, offering relief from the tension found elsewhere in Flight Patterns.
Blending analog and digital production with field recordings, Marley has developed a sound often compared to artists such as Tycho and Four Tet.
His work has received praise from major outlets including NPR, Pitchfork, and Stereogum.
Based in Asheville, NC, Marley has also performed alongside like-minded musicians such as Floating Points, Bonobo, and DJ Shadow.
He will soon join electronic legends The Orb as the opening act at The Orange Peel on November 31, 2018.
Loci Records founder Emancipator once described Marley as a tastemaker with a refined ear, a master of groove, and an artist skilled in the craft of composition, production, and turntablism.
Those qualities shine brightly in “Migration/Monarch,” setting the stage for the arrival of Flight Patterns.
