With this release, Geyzel shows he can add electro to the list of styles he’s got in the toolbelt. Fast, funky, and smart, this release is a great addition to the genre.
Fast, funky, and smart, this release is a great addition to the electro genre
Browsing through Berlin-based Serge Geyzel’s back-catalog on Bandcamp hints at, but does not fully prepare one for, the massive slab of electro devastation contained on his latest 12″ Limbo. Previously-released tracks like “Curry or Not” show a proficiency with the breakbeat-based IDM that ruled the roost in the early 2000s, and the aptly-named “Bass Check” drops some filthy low-end, but then there’s also a whole EP of lo-fi chill-hop entitled Backgrounds for Killing Time.
This background check was necessary because from the very first notes of Limbo‘s opener “Time Thief,” it’s clear that something intense is afoot. The fuzzed out bassline and ultra crisp electro breaks quickly escalate into a storm of shifting, superheated field effects. A couple of buildup/breakdown cycles leave you sweaty and asking for more—which Geyzel immediately delivers with “Bass.Motion.” This time it’s the beats and the bassline that are hot and distorted, just short of blown out, as a voice repeatedly intones (as you might expect): “Bass. Motion.” It’s a stormer of a track, elevated above brute animalism by clever production and sound design. The title track closes out the first side of the vinyl with a jerky, propulsive techno number that would sit well alongside artists like Kangding Ray or Akkord.
On the flip side, the self-deprecatingly titled “Don’t Bother” returns to form with a spacious electro beat that duels with a huge bass tone that stair-steps down and then back up, building and releasing tension as it goes. An acidic squiggle of a melody and atmospherics round out this track nicely, and I’m glad Serge “bothered” to include it. The first of two remixes follows, with Illectrolab remixing “Return.” The ordering here is a bit strange as the original mix is only available on digital download, not the vinyl. But this is also a delicious electro/acid crossover with a low end sure to give your subwoofers a workout. The last vinyl track is Karsten Pflum remixing the opener “Time Thief.” Compared to the original, this version has more of breakbeat feel, with chopped up samples interspersed with the original groove, the bassline inverted, and a gentle new melody laid on top.
In addition to the 12″, there are two tracks available digitally—as mentioned, the original mix of “Return” shows up here, and it lacks a little of Illektrolab’s freneticism but is still a completely solid track. And finally, “Unsuccessful” (what’s up with the pessimistic titles?!) is a great addition to round out the release—it’s a straight-ahead modern electro track that has everything I love about the genre: whipcrack snares, a rubber-band bassline, and enough ear-candy to maintain your head’s interest while your booty is busy grooving.
With this release, Geyzel shows he can add electro to the list of styles he’s got in the toolbelt. Fast, funky, and smart, this release is a great addition to the genre.
Limbo is available on Diffuse Reality (vinyl releases October 15 2021). [Bandcamp]
