Through a combination of new tracks and remixes, (ghost) cements his expertise in melodic and often daring, dramatic, and experimental harmonic techno while opening that sound up to interpretations by a number of artists with both similar and distinct voices and techniques.
Elas is the maxi-EP companion release to (ghost)’s 2014 A Vast and Decaying Appearance, also on n5MD. As with its predecessor, (ghost) (aka Brian Froh) offers up a warm, glitching and expansive ambient sound which luxuriously reaches through big, experimental techno sections before plunging again into sweeping, meditative synths. The EP features new work by (ghost) in addition to remixes both by himself and the likes of Ocoeur, Proem and Zyxt.
The EP’s title track carries over certain melodic references and beats from 2014’s LP, albeit to create an overall slower, fuzzier background of texture which features some strange, arcing synths with almost disharmnic edges against a wash and blur of crunchy static and echoing vocals. Rising from within this are (ghost)’s favoured tight, tapping synth sequences which build up toward a thicker, pulsing sound which gives rise to a wavering and maybe ironic “haunted house” ghostly sample before giving way to some major, thrumming and corroded beatwork. “Elas” is the crown of the entire EP and shows (ghost) going back to old material while plowing up the earth for new work to come.
Ocoeur’s remix of “Invisible Handcuffs” (which appeared on the 2014 LP by (ghost)) brings his own brand of melodic techno to the track, working cleverly with the range of sound and harmony which (ghost) built into his original. The remix demonstrates both artist’s ability to work with the modular components of techno in order to create something truly unique, underpinned by expanding, fat bass notes and slow, crunchy sequencing. Equally, Proem’s remix of “Finding Elas” brings his use of sequencers and slow, atmospheric build-ups to the mix while switching these through this pretty tripped-up but addictive up-tempo beat and key section which sounds like a blasted-open and decayed TV show from the early 1990s (in a good way), rising and fattening out through bigger and bigger envelopes of sound as the track reaches towards its climax. Rounding off the proceedings we also have glitched out melodic fragments and acrobatic beats from Roel Funcken and Zyxt.
Elas is a fitting companion to (ghost)’s 2014 release. Through a combination of new tracks and remixes, (ghost) cements his expertise in melodic and often daring, dramatic, and experimental harmonic techno while opening that sound up to interpretations by a number of artists with both similar and distinct voices and techniques. Since 2014, (ghost) has quite literally been my go-to. A Vast and Decaying Appearance was a phenomenal and diverse release which Elas has built confidently upon. These were the tracks I carried with me on long, all-night coach rides across the country. Elas is already at the peak of my playlist, and will likely remain there.
Elas is available on n5MD.
