(02.03.07) Holland has been a hub of electro music for years now. From the medley have emerged many labels, some synth pop based, some disco, some border on the darker side of the electro sound; Bunker is one label that falls into this latter category. Bunker, established many years ago in The Hague on a foundation of acid and techno, is an imprint that has released atmospheric electro, tracks that depict the grit, grime and industria of the city it grew up in. Artists such as Legowelt and Orgue Electronique made their names on Bunker. Another musician who worked with Bunker was Syncom Data, a group that mustered up a sullen electro sound. After releasing “SD01” and appearing on
compilations such as The Hague Rocks The Planet #2 and From Our Hoodz To Yourz…, Syncom Data decided to set up their own imprint; SD Records, the label, was born.
SD Records has had two releases since its inception, all by Syncom Data. Now the third release by the label’s eponymous founder is set to come out, Beyond The Stars. The record features three versions of the same track: “Beyond The Stars (Dub),” “(Beatless)” and “(Beats).”
The Dub version is an electro, dub reggae style track. Although this sounds like an unpalatable combination it works surprisingly well. Dark, Jamaicanesque melodies brood and echo across the track as minimal drum beats lurk. Thick Caribbean lyrics rise and fall to add a preaching, eerie, gospel element to this peculiar number. A track for minimal club nights or easy solo listening.
The Beatless and Beats versions are found on the B-Side. Surprisingly, these tracks are quite different to the Dub track. Beatless starts the B-Side, a jagged minimal number centred around distorted synthlines. Drums, as the name might suggest, do not feature greatly in this version of “Beyond the Stars,” slight snare rasps click through the track but it is Syncom Data’s analog lines that are at the heart. Likewise, the Beats version is heavily drum centred. The track opens with stripped out acidic chords over which a net of crisp beats descend before a much darker bass thump kicks in. The track has a light headed, subduing aspect, as playful synths give way to space breaks before the chords loops around the sun back to the listener’s ears.
Beyond the Stars is an EP of Dutch flavoured, with a dark Caribbean edge, electro. Each mix has its own elements and subtle differences. The record has a sharp sense to it, a dirty, underground feel; something that many Dutch artists seem very astute at creating. An excellent, gritty EP.
Beyond the Stars is out now on SD.
