Arctic, yet emotive, electronics to counter the soaring temperatures.
SETI Recordings are battling the fierce heat of southern Spain with some cold electronics. Following on from the label’s vinyl debut, Night Lights, the Granada label is presenting a collection of artists under the title Padded Cell Vol 1.
The black skies loom over Andalucia. Penelope Martin delivers biting winds with “Night Breed.” Ghostly bars haunt, dark moods hollowed out against stark beats. Fellow ArD2 member Ekis is on hand for more ashen tones. Measured tones lead into a resonating lightness, eclipsed moments balanced by lighter movements. Up next is Zenobite. This almost unheard of artist offers the Electro rinsed clinical coils of “Mechanical Gear Wheel.” Brittle and biting the Madrid based artist ricochets harmonies against a barren backdrop of brushed aluminum. An IDM undercurrent runs through the release, coming to a head with the final installment by debutant Koaxial “Aphasia.” Cycles of reduction spin, clipped drums and meandering melodies rise and bulge under petering pressures for an introspective closure.
Spain is not the most fertile ground for electronic music. I’ve discussed this before. It’s not due to lack of talent, it’s more down to the lack of a cohesive core. Padded Cell showcases the splintered talent of España, from the searing South to the, well, searing center. Expanding from their ArD2 release, SETI is pushing their platform and offering it as a space to new and unknown talent. Arctic, yet emotive, electronics to counter the soaring temperatures.
Padded Cell Vol 1 is available on SETI.
