Review: Toffee Nut Orion
For a track inspired by looking towards the infinite, Dust Over Kora proves Toffee Nut Orion is already operating in a very different orbit.
REVIEWS
8/31/20262 min read
Next up is Toffee Nut Orion, the electronic music project of Florian Meyer, an artist exploring the vast space between emotion, imagination and the infinite.
Moving through shimmering synths, distant worlds and human stories, Toffee Nut Orion treats outer space less as a destination and more as a mirror - somewhere that longing, loneliness, connection, wonder and hope can become larger than life. Each release exists within its own universe, but there is a common heartbeat running through them all.
The latest single, Dust Over Kora, is the lead track from the album of the same name, and calling this simply a song doesn't really do it justice.
This is a soundscape.
A journey.
From the first calm, almost haunting notes, you're immediately drawn into its world. The opening is beautifully restrained, allowing the atmosphere to establish itself before an almost African-inspired drum pattern begins to emerge and gently pushes the piece forward.
From there, Dust Over Kora begins to grow.
What is particularly impressive is the patience behind the arrangement. There is a lot happening here, but nothing feels unnecessarily thrown into the mix. Sounds, samples and melodies are introduced with purpose, each new layer adding another dimension rather than simply sitting on top of what came before.
And crucially, there is space.
That might sound like an obvious thing to say about music inspired by distant worlds, but it is incredibly important here. Florian Meyer understands that music needs room to breathe. Moments are allowed to linger, ideas are given time to develop and the listener is never overwhelmed simply for the sake of demonstrating how many sounds can be squeezed into a production.
The vocal samples are particularly effective.
They give the track an almost human anchor amongst the electronic textures, adding another fascinating layer to its atmosphere and helping Dust Over Kora develop its distinctive vibe.
The track continually twists, turns and evolves, yet never loses the listener along the way. There is always another subtle change waiting around the corner, another texture emerging from the background or another rhythmic idea quietly changing the direction of travel.
Perhaps its greatest achievement is the contradiction at its heart.
Dust Over Kora somehow manages to feel relaxed and energetic at exactly the same time.
That shouldn't really be possible, but listen to it and you'll understand exactly what we mean. There is a peaceful, almost meditative quality running through the piece while the rhythms underneath provide constant movement and momentum.
The result is a beautifully constructed piece of electronic music that feels cinematic without becoming overblown, experimental without becoming inaccessible and intricate without ever feeling cluttered.
With Dust Over Kora, Toffee Nut Orion hasn't simply created something to listen to. Florian Meyer has created somewhere to disappear into for a while. Beautifully arranged, wonderfully atmospheric and full of subtle ideas, it's a piece that rewards shutting out the outside world and allowing the music to take you wherever your imagination chooses.
For a track inspired by looking towards the infinite, Dust Over Kora proves Toffee Nut Orion is already operating in a very different orbit.