Casting an eye back over the back catalog, Orihasam marks a new avenue rather than a break with the diametric. ideal. Coarse and undeniably dark, this Japanese artist programming in crash barriers and spark plugs.
“Techno used to be better…”
I enjoy an ‘ole rant. Solid bit of cribbing, complaining, general giving out. One of my favorites is Techno. I know I’ve mentioned this before but I’m a backwards man when it comes to Techno. I don’t mean to say I’m expounding creationism when it comes to the genre, but I constantly return to labels, and artists, of the past. Early Warp, UR, B12, Red Planet, A13 and so on. It’s to the ’90s I habitually return, mainly because most imprints and musicians never surpassed those early outings. But I won’t be severing all ties, and hopes, with present day Techno. There are some who have continued with that ’90s experiment, adopting modern sounds whilst keeping true to the musicality of that Golden Age. Glasgow’s diametric. has built using those blueprints of Britain and Detroit. Exploring Ambient, Electro and Techno, with a splash of Dub, Arne Weinberg’s imprint has delivered soulful electronics from home and abroad. The Scottish label looks to an artist continuing the project that started some twenty five years ago.
Imugem Orihasam is a Japanese artist who only cut his vinyl teeth two years ago, but since then he has enjoyed a stream of EPs on labels like Sistrum, Statik Entertainment and Nsyde. His sound is characterized by a throbbing industrial undertone, a caustic fervor painting in ash and zinc. Abrasive mechanics are on display for the opener “Sluggish.” The track writhes to escape its structural hold, 4/4 shakes shackling buzz and clank in an echoing warehouse. Orihasam toys with rhythm patterns, using bass and beat to disorientate and unsettle. “Image for 9, 5 & 4” sends these estranged drums into the ether, ricochets of melodies returning alongside static and grated feedback. Bold beats introduce the flip. However, a gentler side is beginning to break through. Light chords are freed, soaring above the heavy bass and drums. “Grains” falls into the gap between Dub Techno and Electronica, strong patterns married to slighter sounds, the lead-out giving way to an oasis of urban ambience. Keith Tucker (aka Optic Nerve) is called upon for remix duty. The Detroiter’s take on “Grains” immediately secures with 4/4 ballast but those original abstractions are utilized. A broad string melody adds further weight to this robust remake.
Grains is a new venture for diametric. Casting an eye back over the back catalog, Orihasam marks a new avenue rather than a break with the diametric. ideal. Coarse and undeniably dark, this Japanese artist programming in crash barriers and spark plugs. But amidst the metal are etchings of the earthly, shards of stilted light to counterbalance the brutal. An interesting EP from this addition to the diametric.family.
Grains is available on diametric..
