Almost a year after its release, Gravity Well exhibits a mind-bending assortment that doesn’t let up—not a dud to be found, each piece is a well-oiled machine churning out abrasive glitch-hop electronics from the center of this circular cosmic spot.
Roel Funcken (of Funckarma, Legiac) noted last week that the Renraku Global Media’s Gravity Well was “…the best bass, IDM, dubstep, instrumental hip-hop, D&B compilation of 2017.” It’s difficult for me to admit how this behemoth 24-track release slipped through the cracks, when it has easily left a fissure as wide as a city bus. The above-mentioned genre zigzagging is precisely what this Minneapolis-based collective does so well. Bringing to mind early assemblages like Ions (Konstrukt, 2004), MAS Confusion (Musik Aus Strom, 2002), the Number Een series (Djak-Up-Bitch/Phonics), as well as Machinedrum’s early Half The Battle release (Merck, 2002-2004). These releases (and others in that golden-era of crunchy electronics) gravitated towards corrosive bass-laden explorations that fizzled there way into the subconscious with broken beats, low-end squabble, and articulated rhythms.
It is with these reference points that the abstract, detail-oriented audio deconstructions on Gravity Well become so clear to visualize. Artists like Distune, Dried Leaves & Pathxs, HØST, Ascent, Architek, Eyeseeu, Zimbu, and Dayle manipulate hip-hop slabs and wide angle breaks to no apparent end. Elsewhere you’ll find minimal click bots tapping the floor boards with distracted noises by Sacci, Yokase, Think Twice, Cvlnrst, and N². There’s just so much to elaborate on, but the music simply speaks for itself—brisk, crackling drums take center stage as extruded bass lines slither about only to be intersected by melodic-glitch undercurrents and blistering resonance.
Almost a year after its release, Gravity Well exhibits a mind-bending assortment that doesn’t let up—not a dud to be found, each piece is a well-oiled machine churning out abrasive glitch-hop electronics from the center of this circular cosmic spot. Renraku’s High Tech/Low Frequency slogan contrasted with Merck Records’ electronified hip-hop are very much aligned here.
Thank you Roel for the heads-up!
Gravity Well is available on Renraku.
