Numb Capsule delivers a diverse range of predominately under-appreciated musicians that sculpt a very unique set of skills meant to dislodge any preconceived genre notions. Perhaps the next iteration in the style of early-era Skam, n5MD, Musik Aus Strom, and Phonics imprints, Fragments pulls all the punches and doesn’t hold back.
If anyone recalls the 0161 Skam compilation released back in 1997—hard to believe it’s been 20-yrs—or the SMAK series from around 2002, IDM enthusiasts will remember how mind boggling, and energy packed these collections were. Instantly sought-out (and collectible), these comp’s delved full-throttle into broken beats, heavy bass rattling, and distorted rhythms with obscure vocal bits tossed in for good measure. The MAS Confusion compilation from 2002, released on Musik Aus Strom and Studio !K7, also delved into similar bursts of exp-electronics with a powerful melodic mood. Other various artists titles including MD8 (n5MD, 2004) and Nummer Een (Phonics, 1999) revealed a plethora of like-minded, punchy IDM infestations that even to this day continue to sound just a relevant as ever. Fragments inspires these old-school dynamics, and brings them back to life.
The Thessaloniki, Greece-based Numb Capsule imprint will certainly appeal to fans of the above-mentioned tectonic audio plates that constantly shift and collide into each other—hence the aptly-titled fragments name-tag, perhaps? (Personal) highlights come from Echo Canyon, Pera Sat Ori, Pita (aka Peter Rehberg / Editions Mego), and Turbo Teeth as they ravish the brain with blistering, coma-induced plateaus of scorched percussion and low-end turbulence worth repeated plays. Elsewhere you’ll be hard-pressed to pigeonhole Fragments into any one specific genre—and it’s probably best not to. Nonetheless, what’s on display with this highly recommended amalgam is a vivid hardware versus software concoction that splinters into electronic sub-genres. Disturbed and displaced sounds are fed through noisy dub blenders (ie. Bill Anagnos), some moments are slightly relaxed (ie. MarcelDune and Bagaski). while others veer into sample-laden glitch’n beeps with sporadic clicks that are drenched by atmospheric textures (ie. Spivak and emdy).
In all, Numb Capsule delivers a diverse range of predominately under-appreciated musicians that sculpt a very unique set of skills meant to dislodge any preconceived genre notions. Perhaps the next iteration in the style of early-era Skam, Musik Aus Strom, n5MD, and Phonics imprints, Fragments pulls all the punches and doesn’t hold back.
Fragments is physically limited to 100 copies (6-Panel Digipack CD), but also available as digital download.
Fragments is available on Numb Capsule.
