Philipp Münch and Tim Kniep who are Synapscape have been refining their special approach to complex and multi-layered rhythmic noise over quite some years now.
Complex and multi-layered rhythmic noise
Synapscape have just released their latest EP on Ant-Zen Records, and it’s quite a doozie! Philipp Münch and Tim Kniep who are Synapscape have been refining their special approach to complex and multi-layered rhythmic noise over quite some years now. With at least 12 albums, not counting collaborations and split releases, over the last 27 years. Not to mention the many other projects either or both of them contribute to. Their sonic explorations and studio exploits have provided many tasty fruits for us. Things to listen to, far too loud on headphones, jump around and dance to at their excellent live performances, or provide some neighbor challenging nights in.
This is a digital only release from Ant-Zen who have been releasing more and more digital releases over the last year or two, along with some very collectible and notable physical releases now and again too. Typically, these have been lathe cut singles, limited edition CD releases, and some special vinyl EPs and LPs. The cult following for this label has not faded despite COVID and limited opportunities for the artists to flex their live performance muscles. Check out the recent Flint Glass Psychopomps 10” EP or Eva|3 A World Within LP, or The Rorschach Garden lathe cut 7” EP Dangerous Isolation Site. Beautiful designs and custom pieces.
This latest Synapscape EP provides a great cross-section of tracks with the opener “Nightfall” being a great sonic exploration track of analogue, organic and modular feeling, complex and rich electronica. This is where Ant-Zen and Synapscape reach out from beyond the huge umbrella of industrial music, and provide listeners with something that would be equally at home on many electronica labels. It could be the soundtrack to a Black Mirror episode, or equally at home in the psychedelic Archive 81.
We’re into horror movie soundtrack territory now ::
Moving on to the next track reminds me of a comment I once read about Synapscape which compared them to Skinny Puppy. I do have to admit, given their powerful electronics, distorted vocals, and deliberate and impacting rhythms, I can see what someone meant. All the common ingredients are there. “Interactive Paradox,“ the 2nd track, makes me want to see Synapacape live again, ideally on that monster sound system in Turbinenhalle Oberhausen, one of the locations from the now defunct Maschinenfest where they performed many times. With the opening synth lines, distorted and processed vocals, this would make any sound system sing. Synapscape use the vocal elements in their tracks almost like another synth given the level of processing involved. A wonderfully discordant, cacophonous and disharmonic track. We’re into horror movie soundtrack territory now.
“Flight From Disunity” is a fantastic 3rd track which has the spirit of the wonkier side of techno, think Neil Landstruumm, Woody Mcbride or Subhead. This track makes me wish I was on a club dance floor or doing some “dancing” with the audience at a live Synapscape show. With a pounding and driving beat, and a sawtooth bassline, this track cuts the ether. Heavily processed vocals with those very fast delays making the room sound like an echo chamber, make me feel like I’m a rebel being compressed in a Star Destroyer waste disposal unit!
“Demons Of The Past” really lives up to its name and feels like a homage to the past and influences, including perhaps the likes of Skinny Puppy, especially in the vocals. The rhythmic elements and synth lines would challenge any current electro producer to some breakdance style showdown. I’d love to hear a collaboration or remix here with the likes of ERP, Silicon Scally or their closer to home label mate and sometime collaborator Imminent.
Production and mastering is second to none as always with this class act. Synapscape have a couple of live performances scheduled in 2022. The first of which is on the 28th of May, 2022 in Aachen, Germany. [Facebook]
Synapscape are on the line-up for De Luidspreker – 30th Anniversary Festival in Turbinenhalle, Oberhausen, Germany, this Autumn. It is shaping up to be the spiritual love child of Maschinenfest, check out the Facebook page for this event 28-30 October 2022, pandemic allowing.
Point Me to Nowhere is available on Ant-Zen. [Bandcamp]
