T.O.L.D.

Daniel James Smith of Birmingham, England, operates under the atmospheric dark pop alias The Order of Life & Death, shortened to T.O.L.D. The project name stems from Gustav Klimt’s painting “Death and Life,” which the producer encountered as a teenager. Early activity unfolded in London’s underground, where he tested multiple strands of pop and issued material on his own before shifting to Los Angeles in 2014 to concentrate on T.O.L.D. The Heaven EP became the first release, helmed by Birgir Þórarinsson of GusGus and spotlighting the tropical-tinged “Lucifer’s Eyes,” whose sound fused Bastille’s breathless indie rock with Kygo’s steel drums. That track later surfaced on the meditative debut album It’s Not About the Witches, released on IAMSOUND. Production was overseen by Tom Biller, whose credits include Kanye West, Eels, and Karen O, while Peter Katis, known for work with Interpol and Kurt Vile, handled the mix; Jas Shaw of Simian Mobile Disco appeared on “Return Forever.” Issued in June 2016, the record merged Depeche Mode-styled new wave and goth synths with gospel-backed ’90s house reminiscent of Moby’s Play, all driven by a persistent hip-hop pulse.