ir_ :: Threnode EP (Isness/Analogical Force)

Though ir_’s intoxicating sonic architecture is impossible to resist, the Alabama-based producer expertly weaves a tapestry of nostalgic textures, leaving us craving for just a little more.

A multifaceted sonic trip

Ethan Hardy, performing under the ir_ moniker, presents a vibrant collection of energetic and colorful braindance rhythms for Isness, a subsidiary of Analogical Force. The result is a multifaceted sonic trip, where the raw, fragmented breaks and melodic intricacies of “Anamesis” seamlessly intertwine with the fluid synth arpeggios and propulsive drill’n’ bass cadence of “Montreal”—a highlight of the EP. A delicate balance of soothing elements clash with off-kilter beats throughout, with “Fourtytwo Ten” cementing this contrast with fractured drums and poignant emotional peaks. “Apathy” provides a brief but welcome pause, dipping into soulful southern shades of old-school minimal techno, before the EP concludes with the brittle electronic signals of “Absent” as it fades like a distant echo, drawing us into its faraway static.

Though ir_’s intoxicating sonic architecture is impossible to resist, the Alabama-based producer expertly weaves a tapestry of nostalgic textures, leaving us craving for just a little more.

Threnode is available on Isness. [Bandcamp]