It’s fantastic to see a label that has been so pivotal in the promotion of electro (and other styles of course) develop and grow. Between Places is an organic, and logical, evolution with the mechanics of machine funk being reformed and remolded. Despite Rattleznake seeming, on first listening, to be more of a leap, in reality those tough drum structures and gnarled melodies are Solar One’s bread and butter and have been since 2006 and continues the progression.
There’s a tendency to compartmentalize when writing about music. Genre tags become a wonderfully succinct way of categorizing sounds which really defy their pigeonholes. Take Solar One Music. Arguably the Jena imprint has carved out quite a specific niche for itself, a label of pioneering electro. Although there is some truth to the Solar One focus on the colder side of electronics, it is much more. The recent founding of two sub-labels is proof of that.
Between Places was set up in 2017 with a 12” from Das Muster that toed the line between frigid machine funk and more cerebral electronics. Animistic Beliefs hit stores a few months back on a similar mission. Their debut EP, Sinuous Gullies, combines clean rhythms, warm strings and frosted acid undercurrents to produce a sound that is at once fragile and fully formed. Vocal samples add another texture to the opening “Phycodurus Dragon” before the surging snares and playful noodling of the title piece. The flip takes on a different tone. Lush notes and thick basslines are blasted by arctic rhythms in the meandering “Marianentrog Patrol” while the cold currents of “Aquatic Gas Exchange” adopt an underwater theme replete with 90s vocal samples. Tempos rise for the close. “Thalassic Alarm (Linh’s Hymn)” has all the makings of a spikey work of gritty electro, that is until the break. Slashing wet snares a stopped in their tracks by breathy lyrics before taking off once again at break neck speed.
Rattleznake explores a totally different style with Macht. Founded to journey into the dark recesses of EBM and techno, this new platform debuts with Sweden’s Effet Rose. Little is known about this newcomer with the trio of tracks more than making up for the lack of a bio. “Los” is sweat drenched, fog machine on ten, strobe light slicing, kick-drum pounding mayhem. Menacing and sinister, the track paints in ash and oil. Pain steaks the entire piece with notes adding salt to the gaping wounds left by the pummeling percussion. “Warschauer” is another type of bruiser altogether. Beats are buried and bent, blurring into the background while hoarse vocals pant an angry monologue. The short-lived “Dance for Me” closes the 12”. Basslines bulge and buckle against the stern strike of a snare as grated keys of corroded metal splinter and split in a track that simply needs a bit more length to it.
It’s fantastic to see a label that has been so pivotal in the promotion of electro (and other styles of course) develop and grow. Between Places is an organic, and logical, evolution with the mechanics of machine funk being reformed and remolded. Despite Rattleznake seeming, on first listening, to be more of a leap, in reality those tough drum structures and gnarled melodies are Solar One’s bread and butter and have been since 2006 and continues the progression. Nevertheless, undoubtedly the most exciting news is the discovery of two new musical talents, Animistic Beliefs and Effet Rose; both of whom I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from.
Sinuous Gullies and Macht are available now.
