- Published on
Picks Of The Week (15.08.20 - 21.08.20)
- Authors
- Name
- Lennart Hoffmann
- @lelelelelennart
1. Tom Finster - From Here On Blind EP [DIVIDID]
Recommended if you like: gyrofield, IMANU, Vorso
From gyrofield releasing on UKF's Pilot to Rohaan releasing his album, I feel like this is the year of underrated unique producers getting more attention. This week we got another great example of that. Tom Finster.
If you don't know about Tom yet, first of all how dare you, second you're about to find out about something great. He's one of the finest upcoming german artists of the last few years, with an intricate and unique sound design that is just all-in-all beautiful. With releases on Upscale and Phace & Misanthrop's NËU Music, he has made a name for himself in the genre niche of "weird bass-heavy mostly-dnb". Yes, mostly dnb. While our beloved genre is his main focus, he never shies away from incorporating elements from other genres into the mix or just completely delving into other electronic realms, especially on his Inspected release or his Echo Map collaboration. All of this makes him a perfect candidate for ABIS's and IMANU's label DIVIDID. So many uppercase letters in that sentence.
From Here On Blind is one of those releases that wants to tell you a story. The blindfolded kid with the dark blue tinted color palette of the EP cover makes me think a lot of the german Netflix series Dark, which you should all check out by the way (but please don't spoil the third season for me). Doesn't really have anything to do with the release specifically, but I just wanted to mention it.
Anyway.
Right off the bat we got some signature Tom Finster "messy beautifulness". The EP opener Eyes Closed, a collaboration with fellow german electronic producer Echo Map, is just extraordinary from start to finish. From the epic intro to the DIVIDID-esque main section to the piano outro, everything about it is magnificent. His off the charts production combined with the emotional atmosphere that is conveyed is the thing that makes him stand out and what I like so much about him. Sidenote: Check out the track he created in memory of his Uncle, Hilly. It's the perfect representation of Tom's emotional side. Okay back to the EP. The next track You Too Much is another masterclass in production. While heavier than the opener, it still conveys that emotionalness I keep mentioning through the super catchy vocal sample (I'm still in looooove witchuuu) that he just chops to pieces in the drops. I absolutely cannot get enough of this one. My emotional story theory is slightly validated by the next track "We're Friends, Right?". After the crazyness of You Too Much, Tom Finster takes a step back and goes a more liquid-y route. Even though the track is way more focused on the main melody, the progressively growing messyness that still shines through in every corner evokes an image of someone hiding their pain behind a sunshine-and-roses facade. Okay, I feel like I'm in english class analysing a poem now. But I still stand by that statement. The EP closer Heavy brings out some wonky half time vibes, which start off melodic and slow, but quickly develop into an absolutely bonkers second drop.
I'm (still) in love with this release.
2. Tantrum Desire, Marianna Ray - Be Careful [Technique Recordings]
Recommended if you like: Fourward, Renè LaVice, Loadstar
Now for something completely different.
Sometimes you just want a dancefloor smasher. Which is exactly what Tantrum Desire delivered here. The Londoner with a speciality for tearing up clubs and festivals alike got none other than up-and-coming vocalist Mariana Ray to feature on his newest single Be Careful. The greek singer/songwriter has always been something to look forward to on a track, but lately she's been smashing it even more than usual. Collaborations with Disaszt, Maniatics, Tobax and now the Technique Recordings veteran himself.
Just like one of my other favorite Tantrum Desire tracks, his remix of Cyantific's Bloodline, Be Careful also combines an incredible vocal performance with a forward-pushing drop that just gets you movin'. And just like Bloodline, this one has the potential to become one of his most popular tunes. I hope so, at least.
Not much else to talk about it to be honest (there's probably no need to introduce Tantrum Desire or Technique Recordings), I just really enjoy the track.
3. Burr Oak - Roots Of Evil EP [Eatbrain]
Recommended if you like: Malux, The Clamps, Opsen (took the easy way out there)
Now for something just slightly different.
The Clamps, which sounds like a duo but isn't, and Opsen form Burr Oak, which sounds like a solo artist but isn't. While they've been smashing it on solo duties too, their collaborations as Burr Oak are always something to behold, as a Neurofunk fan at least.
On their newest Roots Of Evil EP on Eatbrain they show the world what they do best: roaring basslines and completely mad switchups. Nothing embodies this more than the title/intro track. Starting off innocent enough with an atmosphere-heavy intro and heavy, but not in-your-face drop, it doesn't take long for the track to turn mad. After the first break-heavy break (heh), you might think oh that was a nice little switchup. But a few seconds later, the foghorns, for lack of a better word, start rolling in and the drums just go completely insane. That's when you realise that you're in for a hell of a ride. The follow-up Mongoose isn't as innocent as Roots Of Evil, from the first second of the drop it bangs its pots-and-pans stepper rhythm into your face. When you start off like that, your second drop switchup has to do something differently entirely, because you can barely top that first one with the same style. Or that's what I imagine went through the french duo's head during production, because the second drop rolls smooth like a butter. Dryads goes the opposite direction. While the first drop is similar-ish in its stepper rhythm, the rolling drums switchup already happens in the second half of the first drop. But instead of calming down in the second drop, they decided to go all in on the madness, nearly crossing into crossbreed territory. The closing track of the EP, Skint, is a lot calmer than its predecessors, relatively speaking at least. It still has the Burr Oak signature switchups and variations all throughout its runtime, but it doesn't quite scream in your face about it. It's more of a slow creep, with its deep rolling bassline and high-pitched stabs interspersed here and there.
All in all, it's pure Burr Oak madness. If you like your Neurofunk in-your-face, you'll enjoy this one a lot.
4. Maztra - UP [High Resistance]
Recommended if you like: Culture Shock, Blue Marble, Mountain
Now for my favorite part of this week! It's time for The New Kid On The Block of the Week™!
This EP is one of those that I am very lucky to have found. I was just mindlessly scrolling through YouTube and saw that DistrictBass had uploaded a new track by a certain Maztra. Having never heard of him before, I checked it out and was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. I know DistrictBass is not strictly neurofunk (or di-strictly amirite), but I certainly didn't expect a such a vibey track on there. That track was When I Am With You, released one day after on Maztra's debut EP "UP". The Russian newcomer found a home for this piece of art on the equally Russian label High Resistance, founded just this year by neurofunk duo 2Whales, which has become a label for every kind of sound you can think of. Just in those first few releases, the label has put out neurofunk, liquid and even a techy EP. Now, they can add dancefloor to their list.
The newcomer starts off with the straight-forward dancefloor tune and title track UP, a track that reminded me a lot of Culture Shock. After that Maztra turns up the energy a bit with Never Be Found, featuring the lovely vocals of Annett. The weirdly catchy main melody combined with the steady dancefloor rhythm is just too fun. After that we get to my first contact point with Maztra, When I Am With You. Let me tell you, I'm 1200% in love with this one. The vibes are simply through the roof. The chanting (?!), the seagull samples, the sea noises in the background, everything about it just makes me feel like I'm on vacation on an uninhabited island. While the production is very lovely, the vocals by swedish singer Jenny Nilsson are just out of this world. I've been looping this one for quite a while now and I'm not gonna stop enjoying this anytime soon. Maztra ends the EP with the lovely lovely lovely Grey Clouds, a collaboration with Sunshowers. Whether it's the small drumroll before the drop, the fun rhythm of the synths or the great drums in general or the piano coming in halfway through the drop, there's just something about this track that makes me want to move. To top it off, the airy vocals just fit perfectly. I know I've said that about When I Am With You's already, but I just cannot get enough of Grey Cloud's vocals. Maztra really proved how well he can work with a vocal like that. The whole track just makes me feel like I'm floating.
Will be on repeat for a while, I can promise you that.
Other Hidden Gems that have been released this week:
Bold Theory - Zero Approach EP (taken down from Spotify for some reason, but it was really good)
Nemean - Vehement / Prey
OHARE - Ghost Ship
A K A - Extracted EP