Sonar Base maintains the level of quality that Cultivated Electronics has paved across ten releases. The tracks are full bodied, muscular pieces of electro and this UK imprint is rightly gaining higher esteem with every release. A savage, clever, and unrelenting return from Sonar Base.
I was lucky enough to catch Dopplereffekt in Glasgow some months back. Outside the decay of an old glue factory, amidst the yawning tower-blocks the Scottish weather served the stereotype; drizzle. Under the shelter of an awning I chatted rapidly with a mate.
“That new Cultivated Electronics out yet?” he asked in between mouthfuls of sodden smoke.
One thing to note about the electronic Glaswegian; they are savvy and quite fanatical about music. The “Cultivated Electronics” in question is Sonar Base’s We Attack At Dawn. That was more than three months ago. Finally, after some test pressing hiccups the EP lands.
Sonar Base, aka Fastgraph, is no newcomer. The Dutch man has been dishing up records for almost twenty years, on labels such as Klakson and Djak Up Beats. The four tracker for Cultivated Electronics opens with “The Deadly Storms of Uranus.” The track is full bodied, filth smeared electro. Slices of snare tear through an acrid acid line with shadows stalking the backdrop. The track has a similar feel to The Exaltics “Annhilate the Planet” or some of Marco Passarani’s material—a turgid and terrific opener. The 303 is once again employed for “The Journey Home.” The aggression of the predecessor is pared back, with Sonar Base lowering the BPM for a meandering work of dereliction. Label boss, and recent mix contributor, Sync 24 steps out of the darkness to torment “The Deadly Storms of Uranus.” The beats are fast, sharp and piercing. Sync 24 pulls and teases the original acid line, contorting it into a mutated machine beast. “The Swarm” closes and the assault finally gives way. The track is still a hardy piece of raw electro, but in comparison to the first trio of mechanized militia. “The Swarm” is sheathed. Nevertheless, a quality closing and a very DJ friendly number.
Sonar Base maintains the level of quality that Cultivated Electronics has paved across ten releases. The tracks are full bodied, muscular pieces of electro and this UK imprint is rightly gaining higher esteem with every release. A savage, clever, and unrelenting return from Sonar Base.
We Attack At Dawn is available on Cultivated Electronics via Clone. Buy Cultivated Electronics releases at Juno Records or Juno Download.
