Reminiscent of early Skam, Warp, Rephlex, Schematic, Neo Ouija compilations we’ve all come to associate with burgeoning sonic machinists of abstract electronic music from the mid/late 90s and early 00s to new(er) school imprints like Evel, Kaer’Uiks, and Detroit Underground—Xephem expand upon explosive braindance tunes on Compiler – Level 3, punctuating their signature with that old-school feeling.
A unique blend of fractured electronic sculptures
A launching point from Compiler – Level 2—a 2020 favorite of ours—Xephem continues to amass a following and nurture their roster of talent. Reminiscent of early Skam, Warp, Schematic, Neo Ouija compilations we’ve all come to associate with burgeoning sonic machinists of abstract electronic music from the mid/late 90s and early 00s to new(er) school imprints like Evel, Kaer’Uiks, and Detroit Underground—Xephem expand upon explosive braindance tunes on Compiler – Level 3, punctuating their signature with that old-school feeling.
Piriform Clone shape shifts with broken techno shards, danceable breaks and a contagious rhythm start to finish as Mause unfolds vintage synthesizers and roughened technoid shell with an emotive backbone. What Xephem are able to unleash is an unrestrained collection of next level IDM artifacts, some polished from what sounds like a couple decades of layered dust, and others are gems that flash, flicker and fade away like a distant memory. There are rapid fire beats, bass and chaotic distortion brought to light by Nike_Vomita, Fxbip, and ®adår (with a side of crunchy acid wobbles), calmer electronic strands courtesy of Tysk Raider and Alex Tannhauser, while downtempo breaks and drifting melodies can be heard on tracks by Repeat Eater, azul cobalto, DJW, Dr. Doctor, Weith and Caltha.
It’s a collection to kick off 2021 with a heavy emphasis on quality, creativity, and a unique blend of fractured electronic sound sculptures. Compiler – Level 3 distracts us from the every day, pulls us into its mangled fabric, and ultimately leaves us with a nostalgic blur of the senses to that remains fresh and inviting.
Compiler – Level 3 is available on Xephem. [Bandcamp]
