Nikk - Down In The Shadows

Buy here: found.ee/spandau20-010 Spandau20, an imprint named after
the Western Berlin district and focused on artists from the area,
delivers techno in all diverse forms – from warehouse and
electronic peak time beats to breaks and IDM, balancing the old and
new school sounds flawlessly. With a focus on vinyl releases, for
the collectors, Spandau20 has lately also focused on its label
nights, with showcases at Fabric, Bassiani and many others. The
label’s 10th release features 10 tracks that epitomise the musical
diversity of Spandau20 and the progressive musical mindset of its
roster, calling on the label favourites and Spandau natives to
deliver brand new and exciting music. This special release even
features one track that all artists have worked on together: ‘Come
Closer’, a swarming, slithering beginning featured as the VA’s
opener. Its barely coherent female vocal echoing amidst a cacophony
of demon-like effects. The chilling ambience captured at the offset
transcends into the first full length track by Elli Acula,
‘Floating Eyes’, a cur characterised by an authoritative, pounding
bass featuring calculated percussive rolls and metallic overtones
to make for a face-scrunching opener to this devilish collection of
works. FJAAK follow for the first of twin cameo appearances,
partnering up with fellow live supremo and hardware aficionado
KiNK. On ‘Overbridge’ the trio deliver a cavernous, rolling number
driven by a deep thrumming bass in addition to a razor-edged lead
synth, and pulsating technopattern. Dajusch is known for
incorporating his years of classical study in with his immersive
musical style – and with his VA effort the Berlin native neatly
showcases this. Easing the energy slightly, ‘Move’ escalates from
its warm, melodic intro into rumbling goliath of a beat comprising
a looping, slew of gassy harmonics. The momentum of the release
shifts considerably with the introduction of acutely versatile
producer, DJ and sound artist Claus. The artist from Spandau leans
his track ‘Bloomscroll’ towards sparse, dubby sonics in which he
intricately ties together to form churning, burgeoning soundscape.
FJAAK jolt proceedings back into the techno groove with their
signature blend of arresting sub-bass and reverberating rhythms,
which come thick, fast and heavy on ‘Jackfruit’. The abstract
wonder of Anna Z’s broken-beat like stylings is fully explored on
‘Icy Liq’. It’s outlandish and amorphous in its execution, causing
a clattering percussive chaos that’s choicely pieced together by
the modular-extraordinaire. Nikk stealthy moves into breaks
territory with his track ‘Down In The Shadows’, packing a trap-like
snare with an acid-flecked melody and dawn-breaking, dream-like
textures. The penultimate track on the VA is ‘Tufted’. J.Manuel
expertly employs a chorus of robot-like sonics that course through
a short-circuiting low-end to produce a pacy, inescapable journey
via a whirling, merciless beat. He is joined by the legendary
producer Tobi Neumann for their menacingly ambient number titled
‘Fennec.’ In parts a nod to UK dubstep, the duo concocts a fierce
admixture of styles bolstering tribal-like components with
industrialised overtones and methodically crafted drum-fills.