Following hot on the heels of 2009’s “Again”, “Traits” will not let any fans down at all, showcasing perfectly the German duo’s inimitable blend of complex rhythms and tense atmospheres. In addition to that fine contrast of distorted beats and clean synths we’ve come to know and love, there are of course a few new surprises to be enjoyed here.
Tag: ant-zen
Lingouf – Doème
While not completely departing from its hardcore techno roots, “Doème” nevertheless spins an elaborate web of broken IDM beats, splintered jazz and classical influences. It is a convoluted and challenging release that will keep its audience guessing.
Home Construction – Surveillance
“Surveillance” may contain many of the same basic ingredients as earlier material – meaty slabs of no-nonsense percussion, sampled vocal elements and grating textures laid over accessible melody lines – but the recipe being used here is far different… “Surveillance” is, musically speaking, the most exciting and accomplished thing 100blumen has ever put together.
Videos: Rhythmic Noise Spotlight
A little rhythmic noise spotlight from old and new releases from the labels Ant-zen, Hands Productions, Signifier and Out of Line.
Proyecto Mirage – Slaves of Capital
The Spanish industrialites Proyecto Mirage are back with a new album and a slightly new direction. “Slaves of Capital” showcases a little less harsh noise than previous releases and present more of an electro sound. Hopefully other artists in the rhythmic noise genre can learn something from this release and not be afraid to add some new ingredients into their musical recipes.
This Morn’ Omina – L’Unification des Forces Opposantes
This Morn’ Omina return with “L’Unification des Forces Opposantes,” which is broken into two separate CDs. The first showcases the tribal and electronic mesh they are so well known for and adept at creating; the second presents more of an electro environment.
Empusae & Shinkiro – Organic.Aural.Ornaments
Though short, this is a great collaboration as a whole, with top-notch production and sound design – as it stands, it feels like an extended EP. Definitely a must for fans of either act; it’s not a typical Ant-Zen release, but if you like the more downtempo stuff they release (Zero Degree, T’zolkin) then definitely give this a listen.
Zero Degree – Probe
There comes a point when you just know what to expect from something when the press release quotes that movie, and not just the movie but that one line… “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe…”, etc. It’s the ‘go to’ quotation for something that needs that moody, futurist sheen to it. In this case, the quote is very appropriately used.
Philipp Münch – Into the Absurd
An album where you can hear all the things Philipp Münch has ever done, but in a very different perspective than what might be expected from him. Granted the sound may seem a bit dated from time to time, but it’s all in a good way – when you play some old Throbbing Gristle or Cabaret Voltaire you won’t complain about older drum machines. So it’s enough to say that ‘dated’ is not the word; this is called ‘vintage’.
Iszoloscope – The Edge of Certainty
Leaping wildly from hypnotic atmospheres that resonate uncomfortably inside the psyche to pulverising onslaughts of merciless percussion, punctuated with some unexpectedly soft melodic constructs, all narrated by the archetype of evil genius vocal sampling – the kind that’s telling you to relax, this won’t hurt a bit, while all your instincts are screaming at you to run like hell…