In DURCH’s new EP, rising talents Katerina Lenoir, Dance Divine, Lostbutfollowed and Hine invite us to explore new realities in a liminal space between digital reverie and the physicality of the lived experience.
The solidarity-oriented queer collective DURCH returns with utopia glitches, a refreshing EP bringing together four cutting-edge talents that each offer us a glimpse into “a bold, bright, beautiful future.” In a context where the lack of corporeal connection has further isolated an already marginalized LGBTQIA+ community, digital spaces have offered a promising yet limiting opportunity for creative reimaginings of the path that lies ahead.
This release reminds us of the value of these utopian yearnings while highlighting the fact that societal and cultural change inevitably involves a direct confrontation with physical reality. As we stand at the dawn of the world’s reopening, DURCH focuses our attention towards the “cracks and glitches” of the digital experience to demonstrate the galvanizing power of the tangible spaces that bring us together.
Katerina Lenoir, the first artist featured in the EP, sets up a dense sonic landscape full of disruptions and transformations that guide us through a tempestuous fusion of contrasting elements. Pulling from the liberating aesthetics of electronic body music and techno, “Manucure Rouge” is ridden with auditory glitches that hark back to hegemonic power structures through the incorporation of samples ranging from police sirens to the roar of a lion.
Next up, Dance Divine’s “Axis” creates a storm of furious emotion with its extravagantly violent gabber beat and punk-drenched vocals. The visionary nonbinary artist recites a political manifesto filled with a destructive rage, marking a rejection of pre-established norms and a celebration of the spirit of resistance that enables a process of Deleuzian deterritorialization, while encouraging the creation of a radically different future.
In contrast to the previous track’s emphasis on the spoken word, Lostbutfollowed’s “ICE” delves into the depths of machine-generated sounds to deliver an incredibly vigorous and energetic hard techno banger. While Dance Divine uses words as a means of awakening our inner strength in the face of adversity, the Berlin-based musician demonstrates how the hedonistic nature of raves can also generate a sense of unity against oppression.
In its unrelenting and radical weirdness, Hine’s “Tajga” acts as an inspiring conclusion to a rich EP. With his background in classical music and composition, the Leiden-based producer takes us on an intriguing voyage that infuses whimsical arrangements with the darkness of techno, prompting us to consider new realities that defy the status quo. Hine crafts a new mold for aesthetic standards and, in the process, subtly announces a revolution to come.
As usual, the revenues of the release will be donated to the non-profit organizations TriQ and Casa Kuà, which offer assistance to vulnerable LGBTQIA+ individuals.
-Théophile Gatté
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