Poladroïd :: Accelerate EP (Roulette Rekordz / Selvamancer)

Forward motion and retrograde pull aren’t in conflict; they’re fused

Poladroïd’s grasp of electro is something I rate highly from the outset. Coming up through the late-90s second wave—as both listener and producer—it becomes easier to distinguish between those extending the form and those simply inhabiting it. Here, forward motion and retrograde pull aren’t in conflict; they’re fused. Familiar grounding, exploratory execution. That balance defines this EP. Vadim Samoluk (aka Poladroïd — Roulette Rekordz label head) operates close to an archetype of that synthesis—where explanation starts to fall short and the music does the speaking. Still, a few entry points help frame it.

The opener, “リング,” is a programming masterclass. Samoluk launches with a stutter-gun electro break that feels both exacting and volatile. Pads bloom around tightly machined rhythms, giving it a cinematic sweep without softening the edge. It’s immersive but controlled—a statement piece that sets the tone with real authority. “Baccarat Noir” pivots toward drum-led force. The hits are big, clean, and deliberate; snares crack within carefully measured reverb while synths stab and swell in disciplined phrases, often resolving on the one with a satisfying inevitability. What sounds simple on the surface reveals a deeper complexity in motion and structure. There’s a dark, nocturnal funk running through it—electro with a technogeist pulse that invites movement, not just attention.

КІБОРГ“КІБОРГ” (again, titled in unfamiliar script) delivers one of the most compelling electro breaks on the record. There’s a post-IDM sensibility in its rhythmic architecture—funk-inflected, restless, and precise. The groove builds patiently, layer by layer, until fractured, glitch-like elements begin to articulate their own coded language. By that point, you’re fully locked in—no distance left, just immersion. The track holds you there, suspended inside its own logic. The closer, “The Anarchist,” carries a fitting internal tension. There’s a duality at play: weighty, bouncing low-end pressure set against taut, uneasy pads. It generates a sense of friction—energy that feels both resistant and purposeful. Rather than chaos, it suggests a kind of structured defiance, mirroring the contradictions embedded in its title. It’s a controlled burn to finish—measured, but charged.

In summary, this EP doesn’t chase nostalgia or novelty in isolation—it integrates both. Poladroïd works within electro’s lineage while actively reconfiguring its edges, balancing discipline with invention. The result is a concise but fully realized statement: technically sharp, atmospherically rich, and rhythmically compelling throughout.

Accelerate is available on Roulette Rekordz / Selvamancer. [Bandcamp]