Picks Of The Week (06.02.21

1. Zombie Cats - Chains EP [Eatbrain]

Recommended if you like: ABIS, Mean Teeth, Gancher & Ruin

Ha, as if I would miss a chance to talk about the Zombie Cats!

The prolific Australian-German duo is continuing their streak of super high output, that is somehow also still super well produced, with their latest Chains EP on the label the Zombie Cats were born on: Eatbrain! If you are familiar with the latest developments in the undead feline's sound you might know what this means. This is not your typical Eatbrain release. Chains is not just a nice EP name, it also symbolises Ross and Rouven getting rid of the shackles of Neurofunk that were holding them back. They even used a different color for the Eatbrain logo on the cover! Make way for Zombie Cats' new sound!

The duo wastes no time and starts the EP off with the title track Chains, which is probably one of the most un-Eatbrain-y track they have ever released on the label. With the help of regular collaborator, and in my opinion one of the most underrated vocalists around, Sarah Pellicano they take us on a journey unlike any other. In the intro they let Sarah's vocals take centre stage by stripping the instrumental back to the bare minimum, even forgoing the typical dnb rhythm in favour of a laid-back half-time beat. Soon enough this chill yet ominous atmosphere is cut in half by a drop that is as techy as it is massive. The chains of the monster have been broken. And it won't rest until it is done with us. Not just an incredible unique tune, but also a perfect opener for what's to follow.

Next up we've got Never, a tune that sounds like it could have been on Mutation. It's hypnotic bouncy rhythm will make you nod your head, whether you want to or not. The signature Zombie Cats processed atmospheric vocal sample and techy stabs coming in and out add a lot of flair, making this a really great little tune. Not necessarily one that will make you go crazy on the dancefloor, but that's what makes it so unique for an eatbrain release.

The third tune on this exploration of different sounds is Mola, featuring the Zombie Cats' old friend and regular collaborator Safra. Mola starts off a bit like one of your more normal eatbrain tunes, but that doesn't last for too long. Right after the first drop the track begins to transform into a more funky, bouncy version of itself. The main bouncyness is reminiscent of some of the Schnitzelstep (I'm not gonna stop using this word anytime soon) tunes of the last few years, but the production surrounding it is definitely Zombie Cats and Safra.

Towards the end the track switches it up completely one more time. While the rhythm slows down to a half-time/hiphop tempo, the bouncyness is cranked up to 11. We've entered headnod city. One could say that Mula takes us on a sonic journey from the more typical Zombie Cats sound to what Safra has become known for with his last few releases. The great thing about the track is just how seamless all the transitions between the different sections are. Just one smooth ride.

Speaking of Smooth: let's talk about the EP closer Reconstructed, featuring Telekinesis, also known as Smooth and Markoman. What a smooth segue that was. You know what isn't smooth though? The track! In fact, it is probably one of the least smooth tracks around. It's a full-on head-smacker, a super-charged nan-dropkicker, an explosive stomper. It's a Banger™️.

All in all, a return to form once again! Super unique, techy and definitely not your typical Eatbrain release.

Other recommended things from me for this week:

Deathpact - ID (Reaper Remix)
Subsonic, Ruth Royall - Hold On
Echo Brown - Struggles EP
Edlan - Echoes (Edlan album hype!)
De:Tune - Au Revoir EP

2. Various Artists - ProtoCode Presents: Alpha Cuts Volume 1 [ProtoCode]

Recommended if you like: Dead Zodiac, V O E, Mind Vortex

In a week full of great releases across the board there's one label that outdid them all for me: ProtoCode! I guess most of the producers featured on this release are relatively unknown, so this is my Hidden Gem Of The Week™️!

It's not even the first time this happened. Ever since their first release in 2018, the Ascension VA LP, ProtoCode has continually delivered some of the best neurofunk around and introduced me to a ton of great new artists. As a label based in Australia, Perth to be specific, they of course heavily focus on local talent like Esym, Dead Zodiac, Target Audience or, to my absolute pleasure, V O E. However, they also regularly feature talent from some of other continents like Instinkt or Kaiza and Xeomi. Not just that, their artworks are super sick too!

Their latest release is another Various Artists release, the first part of their new Alpha Cuts series! In true ProtoCode fashion, this one is full of bangers. Since I'm trying to avoid hitting the character limit here, I'll restrict myself to 3 tracks, but the rest of the album is just as much worth checking out too!

My first pick is the V O E remix of Dead Zodiac - The Fall, featuring the lovely vocals of Veronica Bravo. Even though that pick was kinda obvious for everyone that knows how much I love V O E, I just couldn't bring myself to not choose them. For anyone who doesn't know, V O E, also known as Tevlo and CARZi, are a duo from Adelaide that have been steamrolling the scene over the last few months with releases on RAM, Viper, Blackout, NCS and probably hundreds more to come. Mark my words, they're going to be huge.

Just like their remix! This track's story begins a few months back. Both Dead Zodiac and V O E participated in the Remedy Coast2Coast mixing competition, which is how they got to know each other. Since V O E featured The Fall in their playlist since forever, Dead Zodiac hit them up for a cheeky remix. A few months later and here we are!

As expected, they transformed the track into something that is very much their own. The original vocal by Veronica Bravo wasn't changed much, but since it bears quite a bit of similarity to CARZi's vocal style, it still hits just as well. On the other side, the drop has V O E's neuro style all over it, from the dubsteppy stabs to the great additional melodies. Just like on their other ProtoCode tune Where You Belong, there's even a little half-time section in the second drop! Love this one.

Alright, let's speed this up a bit, my second pick is: Ignition by Jenske! Jenske is one of those artists I mention every time there's an underrated artists thread anywhere. He has only had a few random tunes here and there over the years, but man are they sick. Definitely sick enough to warrant way more attention. So when I saw that he'd be featured on this too I was hyped. Let's just say I got exactly what I had hoped for: some good old banging dancefloor. I really hope this ushers in a new era of more regular Jenske releases.

Okay one more: ProtoCode head honcho Dead Zodiac's and Dropset's collaboration Technology! An mysterious vocal talking about the dangers of technology, some rolling drums, a little dash of variety thrown into the drop, a classic neurofunk banger, just as expected by the two neuro wizards.

If I had more time (and characters available) I would talk about the rest too, the whole release is full of really nice dancefloor and neuro bangers by underrated producers. Intercept, Cryptic State & MVMMOTH, Against Odds or Xeomi & Kaiza might not be household names quite yet (well okay, Xeomi & Kaiza more so than the rest), but all of them smashed it with their contributions to this album.

All in all awesome stuff! ProtoCode never disappoints.

Other Hidden Gems this week:

Evolved - Mutation EP (technically not from this week, but has to be mentioned)
Kit Jones - Counting
Snse, Elijah Blake - We Need Love
Tacktile - Alone In The Dark / How It Ends
Hajimari - Obsession EP
Sub Filla - Black Sand EP
Perplex - Brace Yourself