Published on

Picks Of The Week (02.12.23 - 08.12.23)

Authors

After so many weeks of big, often album, reviews taking up all the space I have on here, I want to delve deep into multiple, maybe less obvious, choices this time around. Still only managed two, oh well. Let's jump right in!

1. ERWI - The Final Decay EP [Goost Music]

Recommended if you like: The Outsiders, Maysev, Rillium

We begin with Belarusian professional finger-drummer and creative producer for video production firm Forest Rock Alexander Sobol, in the music spheres also known as ERWI! From his homebase in Minsk, he has been putting out music all across the spectrum, from Hiphop-infused Trap to Future Bassy Dubstep, since at least 2019. First as mod:noise, but shortly after already rebranded to ERWI, he basically let his musical creativity run free, leading to some super interesting productions - but sadly, no drum and bass yet. Then, in early 2023, his very first DnB tune appeared on the horizon: The Final Decay! Released on Denver-based independent music label Goost Music, who describe themselves as ambassadors of Phonk, but as their signing of ERWI proves, are open for all sorts of electronic wildness, this lovely tune turned out to be the beginning of the road to his very first EP, chock-full of DnB goodness, with the same title as its first entry!

Said title track, The Final Decay, quickly shows us what visionary sonics the new-to-the-scene talent has in store for us: Wonky rhythms composed of futuristic, very much digital yet string-like synths, otherworldly bleeps and bloops and snappy drums, emerging from the chrysalis of the vocal-driven breakdown with all sorts of glitched-up versions of itself and a whole new set of fiery drum action. Continuing this theme of transformation is Metamorphosis, featuring some truly mood-setting guitar strumming by Jaysset. Soon after, this moody, apocalyptic setting of the intro is supercharged by very deliberately arranged, rather huge waves of distorted bass, short-burst weirdness and beautifully dissonant synths, resulting in a surprisingly heavy yet stunning composition. Our third stop, Collide, seems to be going for a more relaxed, yet nevertheless still very much "out there", vibe at a first glance, but as soon as we pass over the one minute mark, we suddenly switch into a way heavier parallel universe version of it, with huge, extra strange-sounding basses and relentlessly attacking heavy stabs, making it yet another great example of well-executed progression.

In a way going the structurually simpler, though not in any way less interesting, route is Feel This Way. Seemingly inspired by the likes of Hyperpop and Indie, this one is most certainly more catchy and bouncily uplifting than its predecessors, but just as uniquely produced. It's probably my favourite of the bunch! For the grand finale, however, we turn the energy levels up a couple thousand notches again, on Arces. Of course, the vocal chops that will stick in your head for a while afterwards, catchily responding to a proper all-encompassing, deeply satisfying, insurmountably big wall of synth, are the main attraction here, but the wonderful atmosphere, the sick drum switchup in the breakdown and all the other quite vibey elements of the tune are just as important to complete that send-off feeling in my eyes.

Out of seemingly nowhere, ERWI effortlessly swerves his way right into my favourite releases of 2023 list, with his sweet, catchy melodic arrangements, composed of all sorts of wonky, slightly off-centre rhythms and outside-the-box production elements. Wonderful!

Other techy/unique things from this week:

  • Various Artists - Zeitgeist Remixes (10 Year Anniversary)
  • The Caracal Project - I hope I don't break your knees.
  • Malcuth, Grey Code - Solitude Pt. 2
  • Age Of Espion, YAANO - Disappear
  • Sign - Lullaby

2. Phrase - Borderline EP [DLT9]

Recommended if you like: Rift, Monrroe, Alix Perez

Next on my list of naughty releases: Conor Butler, also known as Phrase!

While I would be also be super happy to simply feature another "ordinary" new talent emerging out of New Zealand, this Wellington-based newcomer is actually a little different from the others I regularly talk about here: he's a liquid lad! He likes dabbling in deep stuff too, to be fair, but that didn't roll of the tongue that well. Inspired by the sounds coming out of Alix Perez's 1985 Music, Conor has been rolling in the deep (couldn't help myself) since 2018, with the first self-uploads having arrived in 2020. As is tradition for newcomers, he got his start by mostly twisting and turning his favourite songs into DnB, or more specifically Liquid and Deep DnB (with some 140 bits following later on!), with Billy Eilish, Drake and Jack Harlow being his most famous victims. Conor wasn't just keen on becoming a well(ington) sick producer though, he was also sharpening his DJing skills along the way, with guest mixes for Capital Doof and BURNA and an entry for George FM's Cellar Stage Wildcard mix competition.

2022 was when it all started coming together for him though. Not only did he land his debut release on Artsea's onesevenfour, the Southern Lights EP, his tunes were also part of the Wellington DnB and Radio Crimes compilations on Norman Foreman. Simultaneously, he also started experimenting in Tech House, with his Capital Gruuv duo! In a rather fortunate turn of events (this stuff really doesn't happen often enough), European labels started taking notice of his productions and just a year later, he secured a release with none other than Skankandbass! As if that wasn't already enough, he now follows that up with his 4-tracker Borderline on Italian Delta9 offshoot DLT9, joining the ranks of Resslek, Martial Taktics, Am:x and Geostatic.

So what have we got here then? Well, let's start off nice and easy, with EP opener Too High: heavily reverberated, marvellously atmospheric vibes, created by a well-crafted combination of a simply lovely vocal, pleasantly shuffle-rolling drums and warm basses roaring their head every now and then. Wonderful! We roll into its follow-up Because Of You with similarly vibey expectations, but soon enough, the heaviness creeps in. Heavy blasts of bass dissolving into barely controlled, goosebump-inducing assaults on the senses, on top of more steppy rhythms, while the vocals keep the vibes alive throughout. Just now, I was googling Kiwi slang phrases to throw in here so I don't just say "it's sick guys" all the time, but I feel like I would legit just make a right old cunt out of myself if I attempted to pull off any of these. Allow me to demonstrate: Such a skux tune this. See?

Anyway, after this mean as banger of a tune, we go back to the realms of big, vibey basses, with the title track Borderline. While the big focus is certainly on the gargantuan basses scratching your brain in all the right ways, I'd argue it's the precisely rhythmic flow of the drums and the gorgeous moody vocals that really make this tune the vibe that it is. Lastly, we've got one more stinker to look at: Dropper! With a bass reminiscent of a lovecraftian creature arising from the deepest depths of the sea and making itself known with its earthshattering cries, you don't need much more than maybe some catchy vocal phrases (I had to say it at least once) and some minimalistic techy drums and, as you can tell from this tune, you've got a banger on your hand.

What's the Phrase again? The Butler did it? Sounds about right!

Other liquid/deep things from this week:

  • DNMO, Cammie Robinson - Don't Let Me Go
  • IYRE - Where Words Fail
  • AEON:MODE, L8NCY - Touch
  • Fred again.., Baby Keem - leavemealone
  • OUTSHADES, Annastacia Boudwin - Ghost
  • Motiv - Sense Of Flow EP