(05.30.07) Ovuca returns after the Astrobotnia trilogy and the memorable collaboration with Cylob with a record that it’s almost a manifesto of what Rephlex have been representing for a decade and a half. Project V includes every shade of electronic music associated with the braindance trademark, that is a bit of breaks, some electro reminiscences, catchy melodies, lo-fi sounds and a hardcore jungle finale.
Two brief intro tracks precede “Path,” that relies on one of the most beautiful and stunning simple melodies heard in this decade, an instant classic. “Muska” and especially “Purple Rain” are more subdued and dreamy, but just wait for “Autumn Morning” to speed up the pace with a straight beat and warm electro basslines, topped with eerie floating tones so delicate and charming that they may even beat AFX at his own game. Another acceleration comes with the throbbing bass of “Dark Energy,” that sounds like an angry version of Drexciya aquatic techno, while sublime moments of Detroit electro influences mixed with an Artificial Intelligence touch are reached within a few minutes in the spectacular “Lagrange Point.” Towards the end of Project V you can experience more and more dancey tunes, from the bouncy percussion of “Feast,” through the vibraphone driven “Black Leicester” and finally to the closing hardcore rinse of “Sunbath” that injects a massive dose of 8-bit jungle perfectly to finish any party.
This album is recommended to all those people unsettled by the grime compilations, or by the Voafose and Hecker weirdness. Braindance and Rephlex are still alive and kicking and Aleksi Perälä is in top form with fresh music that will stand against any current trend.
Project V is out now on Rephlex.
