Modern electro can often be a stony-faced affair. This 12” is anything but. Energy-filled and diverse, Type EF is a celebration of a sound rather than a strict and stoical following of a style.
Clean, fresh and undoubtedly addictive music
Robyrt Hecht is a man of endless energy. Founder of YUYAY Records, integral part of the Clear Memory crew, record shop owner and prolific musician, many of us might be setting our new year’s resolutions to be more like this Leipzig lad. If that weren’t enough, 2022 sees Hecht flying solo under his own name for the first single artist release on Clear Memory.
Six pieces of devil-may-care electro cross the two sides of Type EF. The first sideswipe comes care of “The Cone.” Drum patterns are fierce with a stabbing bassline to match. Light relief comes with the daring electrofunk chords that swing and stagger to bring another layer to this attitude dripping opener. Vocals feature across the record and first arrive with “Scrilla Cruise.” The same late night driving groove that coursed through “The Cone” is present, as are the incising keys. Hecht toys with the serious reputation of the genre without wandering into parody. The cold edge of the modern electro is present, but so is the funk of the past. This balance is plain to hear in the ashen tones of “Blank Space,” a track that borders the frozen love song (or perhaps stalker anthem) of “Why I Like You” with its serrated melody and vocoder lyrics. Mechanical words continue into “Check ’em Cites” as a cut and fizzing work of computer music unfolds. “Topaz 76” pulls together all influences on this record. Bitter metallic drums are sweetened by bright bars with a hip-hop undercurrent bubbling to the surface.
Modern electro can often be a stony-faced affair. This 12” is anything but. Energy-filled and diverse, Type EF is a celebration of a sound rather than a strict and stoical following of a style. Hecht has developed as an artist and has grown in strength alongside the excellent roster of Clear Memory. Clean, fresh and undoubtedly addictive music.
Type EF is available on Clear Memory. [Bandcamp]
