Hailing from Portugal, artist VIL provides 6 intricate techno tracks for his HAYES Collective record label.
The EP maneuvers back and forth from calm and groovy, to dark and distorted, all with the presence of highly-controlled mixing atmospheres and clean, crisp musical elements.“Bleep This Mess” starts it off with just a classic techno hospital bleep, slowly building up the groove with a new drum element each measure until peaking with dreamy synth chords. Everything is soaked in the luscious reverb that provides the texture and glue, as well as a classy minimal feeling throughout the rest of the record. The title track is a 4½ minute roller coaster with a high-energy crash cymbal sequence signifying the downhill voyages. The constantly changing hi-hat decay keeps the groove intriguing while the bouncing bassline and minor chord stabs make it a great track for warehouse spaces. “Futura” is a tripped out dubby journey, guided by washed out synth chords and fueled by heavily swung drum patterns. “High Street Roller” is a collaboration with Vince and ups the ante on energy with more aggressive drums and beefy synth stabs that filter in and out throughout the track. “Santa Apalonia” is also a collaborative effort, this time with CRAVO, providing another dance floor stomper with a relentless kick and hat combo locking in the groove while they go wild with percussion and modular textures. “Take a Seat” eases you out of the menacing reality VIL skillfully constructed throughout this EP with a subtle yet explosive mind-bender that flips from minimal to maximal and back while still succeeding in keeping the groove tight and funky.
These fast-paced, masterful grooves displayed in each and every track provide credibility to VIL’s EP title, and the Hayes Collective add to their discography of top notch techno with “The Groove Theory”.
-Kai Loo
