While the futuristic sci-fi tropes are not uncommon in the electro genre as a whole, they are rarely so tastefully integrated into meaningful abstract sound motion without feeling forced or pasted on. Robodroid and LDI consistently entertain while constructing sonic worlds that deliver their concepts convincingly.
Air-tight collaborative music production
LDI Records, aka Lloyd’s Dark Imperium, headed by innovative producer Lloyd Stellar, continues a strong run of vinyl releases available through Clone Distribution who are known widely for supplying Europe with the finest underground techno, electro and indie electronic labels and vinyl releases. This latest offering from the Dutch imprint enlists Robodroid—a collaborative effort from Przemek Kuduk (Robodrum / Poland) and Ben Evans (The Droid / UK) both prolific producers in their own right. This new Robodroid EP is a steel-solid follow up to their first EP The Darkness is Coming, released on Crobot Muzik in 2020. From the Future EP is the careful result of meticulous long-distance file sharing that has brought forth some very strong concept development and air-tight collaborative music production.
The EP announces its arrival with the opener “From the Future.” Synthetic voices introduce a heavy, heavy 808 beat with cyber enhancements that forcefully pushes a wave of jittery synth lines under a gigantic sweeping alarm sound. Subtle high register tweaks and robotic announcements persist throughout, with a few short breakdowns to serve as a reminder of how massive the sonic onslaught will be when it all kicks back in, accurately setting the tone of the entire release.
“The Future of Mankind” delves further into themes of a dark world domination by machines. Spacious production gives each sound its own spotlight and leaves room for a key moment in the middle where eerie melodic lines appropriately wrap Robodroid’s cinematic elements through a raging electro storm.
Fans of Anthony Rother will be thoroughly impressed with the likes of “Program the Future.” Production is thick but tightly focused. Freaky synthesizers of all sizes and textures intersect with steady flowing rhythms, most importantly crafting a brooding feel that firmly builds on the established concept and storyline.
Enormous remixes come courtesy of Maselstrom and Dexorcist, both of whom have impressive catalogues of prior releases, some going back to the early 2000’s. Maelstrom’s version of “The Future of Mankind” is a linear display of explosive electronic effects integration, serving as a heady companion piece more so than a reconstruction of the original, pushing the Robodroid palette into a new episode entirely. Dexorcist reforms the album’s closer “Enter the Future” as a highly effective, but slightly more sparsely layered dance floor jam, contrary to the hyper-cinematic feel of the original version.
While the futuristic sci-fi tropes are not uncommon in the electro genre as a whole, they are rarely so tastefully integrated into meaningful abstract sound motion without feeling forced or pasted on. Robodroid and LDI consistently entertain while constructing sonic worlds that deliver their concepts convincingly—always fresh, intriguing and thoroughly banging.
From The Future is available on LDI. [Beatport | Site]
