Picks Of The Week (03.06.

Aaaand we're back! Since the decision to restrict the subreddit for a week only came when some of my usual writing was already put to digital paper and since I had the simply all-around great blessing of an experience that is breaking my phone while on the road, this review comes a bit later than it should have come. Same goes for some of the stuff I half-wrote before I broke my phone, which might come next week. Anyway, let's go!

1. Apollo - Wanderer EP [Empathy Audio]

Recommended if you like: Operate, Alpha Rhythm, Sub:liminal

Let's kick today's session off with a place that has been nurturing some incredible talent these past few years. No, not the usual suspects like Bristol or Toulouse or Wellington even, I'm referring to Tyrol in Austria! With Innsbruck as its central hotspot, Tyrol has proven itself to be a real treasure trove of talent, with Liquicity Launchpad legend Phonetic and tastefully techy colour enthusiast Puzzle leading the charge for me personally, but if you've got a good memory you'll maybe also remember me talking about the likes of Vortex, DANEY and Dub Ten. Well, today I'll make it a cool half dozen. Today, I'll talk about Apollo!

Sometimes stylised as A.P.O.L.L.O and sometimes simply capitalised, Nico "Apollo" Hassler has been smashing up the Dancefloors with his unapollogetically sick blends for a while now, but it took until 2020 for him to actually upload some of his own productions for the world to hear at home. However, the flood gates of releases would only become fully opened in 2022. After continuing on his self-release journey for a little while, he saw the potential for something more. Just like the god of herds and flocks he named his artist alias after, Nico started shepherding the hordes of local sick up-and-comers towards a greater future, as one of two founders of Tyrol-based label and event organiser Empathy Audio. Together with George "Decaz" Haselwanter and probably more people I'm forgetting, Nico has not just hosted all sorts of locally sourced newcomers on the label, Empathy has also become a household name in the local scene, with regular takeovers at the Innsbruckian Aztec Club.

Today, we're here to talk about both the label's and Nico's biggest, most ambitious project yet: the full-sized Wanderer EP!

Before we fully dive into the fast-paced action you might expect from a DnB EP, this particular Apollo mission keeps the countdown to liftoff going just a little while longer, with the wonderfully atmospheric Intro visualizing time wasting away while our protagonist seems to be locked away in a prison. When you consider that the distant prison alarms only start blaring once we hear their presumable significant other confessing that she still loves them, this cage might be more of a mental than a physical one. We smoothly wander over to the title track of the EP, Wanderer, on which the emotional theme of heartbreak is fleshed out further by melancholically-charged pianos, double basses tugging at our heartstrings and, of course, the moving vocals. As we reach the peak of emotionality, we are launched into the drop, with quickly shuffling drums joining the minimalistic ones swaying side so side and a wonderfully warm bass. I don't know how to segue into this, but I'm like 95% sure he used the clicking sound a retractable pen makes for the drums in the second half.

Anyway, with this mystery still unsolved, we continue on the broken love theme with In This Life. While Wanderer was more focused on the unhealthy parts of a relationship, the emotions have now fully overtaken us and only one thought remains: "I need you" (in this life). This more dramatic sentiment is heightened even further by some really suspenseful violin bits, before we drop into some big ol' bassy bwoam's that tickle you from the inside. While that might sound simple, variations like the little quick-firing juggly sections or the delayed drop in the second half keep things interesting all the way through. We are now approaching Terminal velocity in the EP's 6-track run. In this highlight of a middle piece, we are taken another few thousand miles deeper down the abyss, in every part of the composition. Sure, the drums are still rolling and have that great rhythmic feel to it, but everything else, from the eery, cave-like atmosphere and the bass croaking up every now and then in the buildup to the super-low, rumbling bass massaging your ears in the drop. Not to forget the superbly vibey vocals!

Speaking of vibey, next up we've got Atlas featuring the aforementioned super-new, super-talented Dub Ten. With even more sublime strings, we are gently floating into this collaborative world of theirs, before another beautifully processed vocal sample initiates the liftoff process to even heavenlier heights. On top of some finely-flowing drums, the dynamic duo dishes up an incredibly tasty combination of fast-paced yet supremely vibey melodies and the occasional bass whomping in and out of existence. Sadly our journey is already coming to an end, as we land softly back on our planet on Homecoming. With one of his best friends, Konsi alias K SONIC, on the feature, Apollo cranks up the vibe-o-meter one last time, with all sorts of space-y synth melodies, soft pianos and lush basses, providing our spaceship a comfy landing pad in the process.

With this set of six emotionally charged, vibey to the max and infectiously rhythmic tunes, this Apollo mission is an absolute success!

Other (deep) liquid from both weeks:

Broma - Capsule EP 💎
Leks - Candy
Logistics, T-Man - Taste
Hyroglifics - I'll Wait, I Guess LP
Murdock, Ruth Royall - Cola
Halogenix, Liam Bailey - Satisfy My Soul
Carasel, DRS, Blacksmith - Dreams Of Paradise (Keeno Remix)
In:Most, Hugh Hardie, Kojo - RWTS