Pional When Love Hurts

Pional’s latest EP, and his first for Counter Records, marks something of a breakthrough for the young Spanish producer. It’s been a productive few years which have seen him release music via Young Turks, Hivern Discs and Permanent Vacation; play an integral part in frequent production collaborator John Talabot’s celebrated live show, with the performance featuring prominently in Resident Advisor’s “Top 20 Live Acts”; tour the US & Europe with musical like-minds The xx and even pen a song for the Divina Pastora Marathon in Valencia, Spain. When Love Hurts arrives as not only his most personal work to date, but his best. Inspired by love and loss, this four track collection sees Pional finding the confidence to add pop melodies and his own vocals to his deep, compulsive electronics. The result brings to mind New Order reimagined by Zomby, or some of Metronomy’s finest moments. ‘Casualty’, ‘Of My Mind’ and ‘As Time Was Passing By’, all vocalled by the young Madrid musician, play out as the anatomy of a breakup. ‘The Way You Like’ closes out the collection, Empress Of’s featuring vocal providing a startling epilogue to this brilliant EP.