The Transhumans :: Double review (Transhuman)

With the Summer sun fading, the mysterious electronic collective return with two 12”s.

I remember a few years back, when I lived in Scotland, a friend was around in my flat playing records. He’d generally call over with some new and interesting music he’d recently purchased. One EP which had found particular favour with him was Transhuman Records second release, Axiom. I reciprocated his enthusiasm, unfurling my copy of the Renaissance EP with pride. We were both struck by the harmonic quality and Industrial undertones of the Madrid artists on display, the likes of Arcanoid, EBE and the eponymous Transhumans. Nowadays the Madrid men’s stomping ground is Berlin, leaving the sunny calles of Spain for the industrial chic of Germany’s capital. With the Summer sun fading, the mysterious electronic collective return with two 12”s.

First up are the four musical mutations of Pleasure And Pain / Theory And Practice Of Domination Vol. II starting with “Stimulus 1.” The track is fast paced with ghosting elements added for depth. The Übermensch remix is a much more interesting affair. An Industrial Ambient take on the original, beats eroded away to leave nothing but haunted factory floor echoes and desolate wasteground.  “Stimulus 2” opens the flip and takes its cue from both A1 and A2. The track maintains that otherworldly spectre etched out by Übermensch  whilst keeping the rhythmic drive of the opening track. The closer, “Stimulus 3” is the most aggressive of the three. Beats fight amongst themselves, bruising for position as 4/4 arrangements are subjected to jackhammers and petrol fumes.

Postbiological Exisitence breaths into being with an assortment of submerged gasps. Cymbals arrive, giving an extra edge to “Physical Death”, before waves of 90s Techno melody surface. Berlin notes are further explored in “Incorporeal.” At times the dub deluge can be too much, those ever looping patterns blocking paths to more interesting sounds. “3° Nature” opens the flip and is a steady pounder. Squalid chords cut through thick columns of bass, rivets twisting ever further until strings descend. The closer, “Digital Mind” is more non-descript. There are some nice harmony movements, but the bleed of juddering Berlin sound is overpowering.

These latest two EPs combine past electronics explored by the Spanish outfit whilst cataloging a move towards Dub. This reinforced focus on Berlin minimalism means some of those ear catching moments of early Transhumans outings have been substituted by the Dub roll. In amongst the raw mechanics are flickers of that melodic Techno which first brought myself, and my Glasgow friend, to this mysterious group. But this desire for reduction, and removal, has lead, in part, to the shedding of what made the Transhumans so good in the first place. Sometimes less is less.

Both releases are available on Transhuman.