In rotation for the past several weeks, this multi-view reveals the latest sonic landscape from seven talented musicians. Plenty of brittle, glitch, abstract, noisy, mechanical and bass-infused sounds with releases by Dictate, Dmitri Mazurov, DTROY, Michael Valentine West, Midimode, Vhsceral, and Yaporigami (remixes by Valance Drakes, and Grischa Lichtenberger).
Dictate :: Noclip EP (Renraku)
Dictate delivers four tracks spread across 17-minutes, its signature resting in the sound-design spectrum built from detuned glitch scratches (ie. “Cortex”) to lengthier deformed electronic stretches as noted on “Mitochondrion” where hundreds of sounds collide and break down into tinier elements. “Pandora” takes similar rubberized basslines to the extreme while the title track (feat. EMP) offers vocodered lyrical glitch distortion, bleeps, and microscopic waveforms—a definitive highlight of the pack. Early-era Gescom fans should take note.
Dmitri Mazurov :: Simulacra (Detroit Underground)
Dmitri Mazurov displays minuscule sound bytes on Simulacra, an 11-track album for the prolific Detroit Underground imprint. Its surreal noise deformation in the electronic spectrum is more an experiment gone awry or perhaps what happens when fractured modular machines are left on their own. “Ruins” creates a vast, if not exploratory realm built from tiny musical elements sputtering about in a nonsensical language, its wisp of air and fluttering laser-like jabs are contagious and curious at the same time. And this is really the crux of it all—Simulacra bends sound like no other, leftfield notes dance about in a visual blur (ie. “Burrs”) as each piece is its own organic Subotnick-like smorgasbord. Valance Drakes reorganizes “nubilum hArp” into a shape-shifting slow-motion glitched extraction and Grischa Lichtenberger transforms “Wry” into a crisped low-end click-hop field reminiscent of early Phonem works. Overall, Simulacra delivers subtle and unique sonic bubbles from another galaxy.
DTROY :: Terra Incognita (Detroit Underground)
This young and talented IDM musician from Windsor, Ontario (my hometown!) breaks through with the DetUnd collective on this powerful (out of the blue) album titled Terra Incognita. Each track is a vivid and very well produced electronic excursion with electro, breakbeat, IDM, experimental, and disjointed techno slabs that are unearthed to extreme effect. The opening “ABYsmal13xM(e)” is the best example where a bass rumbling rhythm is elevated via acidic washes. Elsewhere you’ll find tactful breaks wisp by as featured on “HEDron” and the sharp edges of “MandleBr0t Pie.” “Vivid” is an aptly-titled beauty, the 10-minute duration spreads its Phoenecian-like wings via busted bass jolts and rugged acid tentacles—this piece alone is well worth the price of admission. Terra Incognita is a unique collection of unabridged electronic bass music that simply reinforces Detroit Underground’s roster of talent and is a certain contender on our Best Of 2018 lists.
Michael Valentine West :: Uher: Franklin Report (UVG212)
Clinical electronics with a dosage of leftfield technoid transmissions inhabits Michael Valentine West’s latest 7-track for UVG212—we’ve covered his Suck Susan moniker in the past. Known for his erratic decompositions, these slices venture through glitch, abstract, and broken beats that oftentimes segue into and out of rhythmic form (ie. “Beyond Testified/On Hold” and “Supernatural Woman”). Funkier elements are hinted at via “Betty Davis Crush” and we are at once introduced to V/Vm-era experiments where crackling notes and odd time signatures are the norm. “Soul 79” lets loose on crunchy beatwork and allows an ambient instrumental stream of subconsciousness to unfold. “Chain Rule Circus” has a similar extraterrestrial affect, its static buzz, clips, and shuffling low-pressure is more in tune with early Oval and Fennesz works. Uher: Franklin Report may take a few listens to digest, its copious use of organized noise and baffling sound structures is quite intense.
Midimode :: Microx23u EP (Sealt)
It’s been far too long since diving into Midimode’s pleasantly drifting IDM soundscapes—the six-track sojourn that is Microx23u comes to us via Moscow-based Sealt. Each track title a wingding of sorts, “-_-↑-_-” opens with fluttering bass and ambient-electronic undercurrent that ventures into a far-off lullaby. Track 2, titled “_–)∞(–_”, is a calming R2D2-influenced escape, its flickering and minimal pulses keep the track in motion. Microx23u must be listened to as a whole, its highlight comes midway through as noted on the tranquil drones and tones of “←∞→” a blissful melodic blurring of the senses. In all, Midimode delivers pensive, if not delicate electronic bubbles with this quaint extended player that can easily float by unknowingly. Careful attention to the tiniest of melodies are explored in this 39-minute transmission. Have a listen to 11-minute ambient-electronic masterpiece that is “-←.°.→-” to get a sense of the outer edges Midimode traverses to extrapolate a myriad of found-sounds.
Vhsceral :: Living on Europa (Renraku)
One of the smallest of four moons orbiting Jupiter finally has a soundtrack in the form of tangled bass, glitch, and leftfield clip-hop by Vhsceral. Seven tracks maneuvering through each other like a series of marbles sliding down a fractured mirror. “Yooroh” is a catchy piece that utilizes similar instrumentation yet it contains a strange melodic sound byte that continuously loops itself even after the track closes. Familiar fragments surround each track as noted on “Huygens” where clicks, claps, and unusual clangs morph into celestial loops. “Tell Yourself” even dabbles with micro-techno, its clinical substructure clearly in tune with Raster. While Living On Europa is an exhausting release made from sporadic antimatter, its multitude of beats bounce off each other seamlessly. The glitch dynamics from this assortment is thoroughly intact and doesn’t seize to amaze.
Yaporigami :: Rhythm Study III/IV & Xinri EP’s (The Collection Artaud)
Two extended players by the multi-talented Yaporigami (aka Yu Miyashita) thanks to The Collection Artaud, here we see “Rhythm Study” and its wondering clicks and spacious drums balanced against the forward-thinking industrial soundscapes of “Xinri.” Both EP’s a vast separation of each other, “Rhythm Study” contains versions “III” and “IV” where ricocheted bits are sporadically placed around spastic beats lost in the void. “Xinri” versions “A” and “B” are translucent, surreal sound-spaces mixing harsher downtempo instruments (reference “Xinir A”) to the fluid rhythmic elegance that is its distant cousin “Xinir B.” Overall both EP’s somehow manage to balance each other out, and the result is a pleasant and varied listening experience for the senses. Fine-crafted IDM reflections.
