The relatively new Barcelona, Spain-based Evel Records is set to expand the IDM and braindance nameplate with new and exciting releases lined up for 2019. Here we get the opportunity to enjoy two recent EP’s—one by Nike Vomita (Rrose) and the other by FLX (Assimilate) and attempt to explain what all the (experimental electronic) fuss is about.
Nike Vomita :: Rrose EP
From Barcelona and with attention to every (microscopic) detail, Nike Vomita (aka Peter Furlan) exhibits ease and power on the Rrose extended player—six tracks that expand and contract in a brisk 23-minutes. Opening with the heart-wrenching sonic teaser that is “3KONIKA_(longtale edt.),” there’s peace and tranquility lodged against fast-paced drum’n bass that strives to be played in an abandoned warehouse at 3am. “MD | Pharma (1914)” delves into distilled breaks, its minimal background drones counterbalanced by skittering beats and ambient tones—a modular slice of perfection. And just when you thought Nike Vomita would continue the rapid-fire percussion, we’re invited to chill with “Rrose Theme,” an ambient beauty that ebbs and flows with light pitter-patter electrical bytes flashing by as wind instruments massage the ears and soul. “The Bride Theme” busts forward with further Squarepusher’esque drums and wicked bass lines as it forages through hard-techno spheres much in line with its counterpart “Crydance.trx2_141,” albeit with a more stripped-down focus on four-to-the-floor analog hustling. The highlight on Rrose takes shape near its closure—”Mariée áNu / 7DJing_[retrx]” reveals rhythmic acrobatics, loosened breaks, and tantalizing synthesized phasers that create a symphony of sweet noises melding together. A mind-bending experimental electronic release that spans through rugged and relaxed theatrics start to finish.
FLX :: Assimilate EP
FLX’s Assimilate traverses darker terrain, its acid-industrial mood kicks off with “Precinct” as the title track delves into early Aphex Twin blips and bleeps—simply put: hard-edged electronics with a moving pulse. Floating into downtempo streams, “Obxd Funk” is an aptly-titled track that flings broken beats with a groovy, slow-motion and head-bobbing rhythm. On “J-41,” FLX flexes his drill’n bass muscles, glitch’n clicks rattling from all directions, the scattered percussive overflow is balanced by distant background ambient shifting. With “Collision,” FLX migrates to more traditional forms—direct, in your face techno with an emotive and upbeat backdrop that smudges the lines between braindance and synth-wave. Closing with “Tracer,” here we find another downtempo behemoth—its mysterious tones and drones slice there way between abstract electronic beats and acidic warbles. Overall a fine-tuned extended player that cuts through minimal soundscapes while simultaneously shattering bass bins with highly energetic tracks.
