There is a sense of balance on Gathering, a literal gathering of ideas presented in a flash which is focused on chiseled tribal-electronic hip-hop and fuzzy rhythm bursts.
[Release page] Shuffled, battered and dribbled beats are delivered in a relatively short-running extended player by Cain whose background as a professional bagpiper and scratch DJ set him apart from the (usual) crowd. There is a sense of contained balance, a literal gathering of ideas presented in a flash which is focused on chiseled tribal-electronic hip-hop and fuzzy rhythm bursts. Synths and samples interplay throughout as distilled melodies and highly textured thumps keep the mood engaged from start to close. If there’s one critique worth noting, it would be the evolution of each audio nugget. All four tracks are in the 2—3 minute range leaving the listener in a curious state of awe. Gescom-like structures evolve and devolve as displayed on “Thurst,” a pulsing melodic gem the merits repeat listening. “Batter” spotlights non-other than battered streams of percussion and edgy rhythmic bass-hop—a collision of beats, bleeps and blips is spread evenly. “Cain’s Rhythm” is perhaps the most refined and electrifying of the lot as harmonic synths and minimal bass-lines are integrated with the aforementioned Gescom aesthetic. “Ruinous Heen” continues with its quest for sonic echoes, opaque beauty and interspersed vocal distortions. As an assemblage of connected subterranean electronics and monolithic out-pours, Cain is one to watch for in 2013. We anxiously await a full-length rendition of the teasing fragments presented on Gathering.
Gathering is available on Crackling Claps. [Release page]
