In rotation for the past several weeks, this multi-view reveals the latest sonic landscape from 7 talented musicians. Plenty of brittle, glitch, abstract, noisy, mechanical and bass-infused sounds with releases by Ard Bit, Bot1500, Edith Alonso, The Oracle Model, Orm-D, Repeat Eater, and Ruby My Dear.
Ard Bit :: AMAZING BUBBLE EP (Self-Released)
The result of a “spontaneous studio session” in late 2019, the multi-talented Dutch composure continues to explore vast soundscapes, this time with emphasis on improvised drone and dark-ambient voids. The collective and emotive pathway of “Memories of the 14th” quite literally inhales and exhales with an organic quality that is both nostalgic and hypnagogic. Reminiscent of Deru’s luminous and cinematic ambient sculptures of 1979 (Friends Of Friends, 2014), Ard Bit creates similar dense miniatures that carefully unearths itself. The cinematic and serene landscape of the closing “A Seat In The Sun” features minimal electrical substructures, drifting voices, and a cascading soundtrack that is textural bliss. Here’s hoping that AMAZING BUBBLE does in fact become a series as Ard Bit hints at on his Bandcamp release page.
Bot1500 :: Matrix EP (Analogical Force)
Five cuts spread over 20 minutes, Bot1500 unleashes raw braindance tunes of brittle breaks and thudding bass that doesn’t let up. The depth of focus is unparalleled on the Matrix EP where crunchy percussive acrobatics dance about on tracks like “505_10” and “Matrix 14.3.” Rugged acid tones break apart and converge only to be busted wide open again to reveal their underlying beauty. It’s Bot1500’s unique ability to mold organic, modular, and seemingly alien frequencies into inhabitable spaces is fresh and at once classic. The dreamlike groove of “13th” exposes its sheer melodic energy reminiscent of artists like Kettel, Plaid, and Aphex Twin. In all, the Matrix EP grasps at the heartstrings with its road-trip across exp-electronics while audio sandblasting along the way—proving itself as a definitive highlight for 2019.
Edith Alonso :: Χώρα (Khôra) EP (TruthTable)
The definition of this EP describes “no man’s land,” an aptly-titled release that runs through viceral drones, electroacoustic, and shoegaze moments—the Madrid-based musician extracts arcane sounds, leftfield noises, and dark-ambient wonders that elude definition. In tune with wide open spaces, somewhere lost in a vast and vacant land—perhaps even in a vacuum—these five pieces ebb and flow with disjointed trajectories and carry with them a sense of abstraction that is both blissful and turbulent. An unrelenting and wildly creative EP, Edith Alonso permits the collision of synthesizers to unfold the breadth of their exponential and eerie power.
The Oracle Model :: Eventide Tears EP (Kahvi Collective)
The bells, chimes, and melodic bubbles of “Baclashes” is a dip through time, its low rumbling bass and instrumental build-up of layers upon layers is a bustling arrangement—free of any gravitational pull, it lifts the listener into the stratosphere with ease. Elsewhere you’ll find submerged electrical fusions of ambience and serenity on tracks like “Metal Perc” as it gradually draws you into its aura. The surreal landscape on Eventide Tears is awe inspired, downtempo in its architecture, and meant to provide a smooth transit across the sun—just have a listen to “From a Dying Universe” as it encapsulates this EP’s full sonic environment.
Orm-D :: Ashes EP (Concrete Collage)
True to form and function, Orm-D glues together firm techno elements and rhythmic acid notes in the shape of the Ashes EP. “Arcturian Ashes” perfectly displays this style with an abrupt and upfront vision of emotive synths and tangled voices buried deep down in the mix. A sincere release that dips into experimental sound fields, and keeps a trajectory of carefully crafted melodies while focused on otherworldly grooves that are utterly hypnotic (ref. “It All Takes Work.”) Overall a welcomed retreat into vocoder-infused electronics and upbeat audio collages.
Repeat Eater :: 707_202_EP (Concrete Collage)
Five tracks of robust acid breaks and broken synths converge on the 707_202 extended player. Like rattling the sounds of yesteryear against today’s advanced production skills, Repeat Eater mangles preconceived notions of IDM and untangles hundreds of rhythmically deconstructed (and sometimes bubbly) sounds in this uplifting collection that spans through video-game inspired motifs to scorched sound-scraping made from modular machinery with a sense of colorful distortion.
Ruby My Dear :: Altaïr EP (Love Love)
The prolific French sound mangler is back at it with a five track EP of expressive, bright, and polished electronics once again spanning drill’n bass, ragga breaks, and hardcore braindance. “Uber Bass” is basically the quintessential track putting it all out on the line—its explosive beats and bass distortion sets fire and is just a glimpse of Altaïr‘s robust sonic force. Elsewhere you’ll find dribbling percussive troves and melodic data bursts on tracks like “Mumy” and “Chewbacca Orgasm”—enough propulsion to jet far into outer space. Ruby My Dear continues to baffle the ears with a wide assortment of ideas that never seem to fade.
