With a pulsating four-track manifest titled Nulla Anima, the multitalented audio craftsman disperses hundreds of beats, blips, and bleeps deep into left field.
Mangled electronics on the verge of collapse
Glitchpulse, “forged from the IDMf Netlabel,” introduce their first EP by Guy Wachtel. Definitely no stranger to mangled electronics on the verge of collapse, his distinct style of industrial glitch and burnt soundscapes is extraordinary. With a pulsating four-track manifest titled Nulla Anima—translating to “no soul,”—the multitalented audio craftsman disperses hundreds of beats, blips, and bleeps deep into left field.
The EP opens with Richard Devine-inspired, shattered, and rugged sound design rhythms of “Midternal.” “Xylk” features roughened drum patches that propel us forward while echoes of old-school Lexaunculpt moments drift and fracture in the background, almost seamlessly carrying on the beat. Through sandblasted sonic snafus that ebb and flow, “Sevit” maintains the EP’s driving force while floating in the upper exosphere. Closing with “Extric,” it sounds like Wachtel’s machines are about to go Supernova as shuffling noises finally cool down into some sort of industrial landscape of minimal threads—the track calls to us from many miles away.
We’ve listened to several glitch releases in 2024, and this one may be among the better ones, especially considering it’s an inaugural release for the reformed imprint with the following vision:
“IDMf Netlabel‘s diverse catalog highlights the talent within the community, featuring collaborative projects and compilations since 2006.”
Fans of Point Source Electronic Arts, Concrete Collage, Errorgrid, Evel, Roulette Rekordz, and Clean Error should immediately take notice as Nulla Anima is already heading into our growing Best of 2024 list.
Nulla Anima is available on Glitchpulse. [Bandcamp]
