Morphtables balances precise braindance programming with technoid structures, shaping a downtempo melodic pull where fractured breaks and electronic details settle into a distinctly IDM framework.
Shaped as much by craftsmanship as by memory
Pavel Ukolov‘s Morphtables alias returns with Absurdance, a 14-track album for the always on point Mestnost imprint that often feels like a trip back a couple of decades. Nostalgia isn’t its sole focus, however. Right from the opening moments of “Tarlabasi,” Ukolov balances precise braindance programming with technoid structures, shaping a downtempo melodic pull where fractured breaks and electronic details settle into a distinctly IDM framework.
The album continues along this path, drawing on classic synthesizer tones while avoiding simple retro revivalism. “Model” slips into spacious glitch-and-bass territory, while “Imaginary Orchestra” explores darker moods through carefully arranged melodic passages. The static-charged pulse of “Red Door” suggests a faster electronic current waiting to break free. The title track introduces bouncier 8-bit rhythms that bounce across the mix, while the brief interlude “Pipes” brings understated ambient flute motifs that linger in the background.
The second half opens up even further. “Micro Octave” moves through a darker downtempo landscape, combining acid lines with low-flying electronic figures. “Silhouettes” highlights one of the album’s strongest qualities: its affection for vintage synthesizer sound design, recalling classic analog electronics without feeling dated. Closing piece “Pendulums” brings everything full circle through saturated bass lines and melodic synth passages that create a sense of controlled disorder. Across its fourteen tracks, *Absurdance* blends groove, downtempo rhythms, and classic IDM sensibilities into a cohesive work shaped as much by craftsmanship as by memory.
Absurdance is available on Mestnost. [Bandcamp]
