The crew of Drowned definitely lean towards the darker edges of the dancefloor. An elbow, followed by a shoulder and then a shove is how the Bremen lads meet the club, don’t forget a fair bit of thump in there too.
An enviable seam of talent underpins the Bremen electronic scene. Drowned and ZCKR have been mining these riches for a number of years now, with their first music findings now flourishing. The former has been digging deep again, resurfacing with two thick cuts that showcase this burgeoning local talent.
Echt Walle Traxx collects the family of Drowned, the newest arrival to the brood being TV Tower Get To Crew. Bass lines are thick, a lilting piano line playfully dancing behind heavy dub and hi hats. Qnete and Robin take techno by the ankles and give it a good shaking with “Bremen Ghetto Jam 1.” Drum patterns skitter and slip as the duo deliver a hard hitting piece with just enough sweetness. Qnete then offers the light relief. His harsh and heavy compositions are sidelined for warm abstraction and experimentation. Alias & Alias deliver the wavering “Territory II,” but standout piece comes from PreciousPandaExperience. A blustery work of house, heavy beats are countered by soulful pads for a wonderfully balanced track.
Occupied by two of the Bremen faithful, Double Portrait is a fiery EP split between Lem and Tobs. The former offers a reduced slammer. A steady 4/4 pattern is rinsed with fizz, bars bending and surging against the steady onslaught of percussion. Tobs´ “Diva” is cut from the same whackamole clothe. Drums pound as industrial tensions rise. Hi hats poke before a rasping wet snare lands on rave streaked keys in a floor annihilator that sits between factory and warehouse floor
The crew of Drowned definitely lean towards the darker edges of the dancefloor. An elbow, followed by a shoulder and then a shove is how the Bremen lads meet the club, don’t forget a fair bit of thump in there too. Theirs is a meaty sound, one that will rattle teeth. But this latest pair of releases show another side, shades of a softer and subtle style; just a shade mind. A label of friends who love a late night and know how to make the soundtrack one.
Echt Walle Traxx compilation and Lem/Tobs’ Double Portrait are available on Drowned.
