For many true fans of electro, it should have a sci-fi, almost alien-like sound, and give highs in the living room or dancefloor—all of which is excellently executed by dynArec. Those looking for vocoders, funk, dark, and colorful tones need to grab this EP as it can be a rarity to hear music labeled as electro with this level of quality.
Grooves rolling with a true cyborg style
With so much influence in the more modern sounds of computer and sci-fi themed electro, it’s a perfect match for dynArec (aka Chris Kalera) and Sheffield’s Central Processing Unit, with his latest EP Force In The Sum. Across the four tracks, spacey and vibrant signatures loved by dynArec admirers can be found as well as the cyber lush CPU sound. On that same note, the listen is quite dynamic thanks to a hybrid of styles that can be heard from track to track.
A1 “A Dispatching Role” gets the cyber affair started with a classic and fresh serving of electro brimming with 808 rhythm energy and a perfect contrast of ominous and spacey leads and pads. All the fun is accented perfectly with atmospheric robot vocoders and a funky, mean arpeggiated bassline that keeps the grooves rolling with a true cyborg style. Indeed, the elements in this production tell a story, where one could easily imagine space, robot themes, or snowy dystopian lands as much as enjoy the musical highs and electro-bass throughout.
A2 keeps the fun and imagination in overdrive with the professor processor funk of “Stabilized.” Sounding like its saturated in 8bit video game sauce, the track has a cool retro demeanor while charmingly displaying influences of Detroit and Kraftwerk style electro. The dark chords bring a ghostly and catchy aura that’s easy to bring a smile or head nod while listening. All the while, a monotone Speak & Spell voice delivers “Stabilized…System has been Stabilized,” adding a really cool character to this choice adventure of a track. Truly fun stuff in side A overall.
Side B opens with a grimy and raw pixelated sound, as we enter “Canonical Form.” The distortion, chorus kissed basslines, and blocky snares might bring to vision of an artifact that researchers would find on an icy planet, however we know it’s the coolness of dynArec as he laces in his signature style of hypnotic leads and arpeggios. There are also influences of trance in some of the main chord progressions here; again a hybrid of sounds that is quite the norm for the unique flavor of dynArec productions. Transmitter effects, cosmic winds, and modulations also help make this track quite the listening destination.
Force In The Sum doesn’t let up on energy as it closes out with a bang of a track in “Classification of Elements,” an adventurous hybrid where soul meets energetic artificial intelligence. Structurally its punchy vibe and assertive bassline will get dancers attention with fresh command, yet its silky smooth chord stab, sonar synth whistles, and ruby textured arps are a true mental highlight. A perfect hybrid that is equally in line with electronics and electro, thus the vocals tell you the most important thing, “What Matters Is The Sound,” as the aggressive and lush terrain bounce across your body and mind.
For many true fans of electro, it should have a sci-fi, almost alien-like sound, and give highs in the living room or dancefloor—all of which is excellently executed by dynArec. Those looking for vocoders, funk, dark, and colorful tones need to grab this EP as it can be a rarity to hear music labeled as electro with this level of quality. Once again, CPU adds a winning entry to its vast catalog of premium electronic music. Likewise, for fans of dynArec, CPU, and dystopian sci-fi world themes with a touch of cybersoul; this release is highly recommended and essential.
Force In The Sum is available on Central Processing Unit. [Bandcamp]
