Kyle Geiger delivers a dense, futuristic record on Rebar’s label “made of CONCRETE,” a release oozing with class, atmosphere, and storytelling through sound design and incredible mix work.
A prolific producer with tracks on Droid, K7, Cocoon, Soma, Perc Trax, and Drumcode, Geiger boasts a prolific resume. On this EP he explores cinematic concepts, tension, as well as ambient tones and carefully tailored control of space.
“Bellhouse 1” begins with a funky, classic synth line anchoring the groove and evolving. This track is characterized by careful control of space/reverb, the room being incredibly palpable, its smaller atmosphere lending a sense of intimacy. As the arrangement emerges through to the outro, the main synth line finally opens fully, with a slippery yet textured feel.
“Bellhouse 2” conveys more urgency, and immediately a large open 909 hat rolls in. A haunting pulse floats in and out as claps drop into the mix, and throughout an insistent arp maintains energy underneath. The overall effect is hypnotic and deep. Out of the intro, a singular snare pattern enters the picture, and it resembles the sound of machinery breaking up concrete at the construction site down the street, the sound of workers and steel, encompassed in a snare. Something about the sound as well as the pattern, but overall the visual is striking, the sound so emotive that it can’t help but conjure the picture.
Exploring even deeper territory, “Bellhouse 3” is characterized by a warbling pad that morphs while a massive clap answers it. Claps are common in techno but this one is gorgeous, loud, not too bright, a very pleasing sound with a sweet reverb – the tone truly stands out! The entire track is actually an excellent showcase of incredibly well sculpted tones, extending from the beautiful range of many hats, each with its own distinct pocket, to the kick drum and synth that glides and modulates throughout the track all the way to the satisfying end.
Rebar, the Berlin and Dresden based label heads, take on remix duties for Bellhouse 2. Their version still has the singular machine snares, but the world they create here is populated by mystery, spies, and slinking percussion. Distant drum pings echo like questions, and the psychedelic answering pads confirm their suspicions. A slower number, the bass burns with an acid feel.
And here the EP ends with the final snare roll, alone, anthemic in its stark simplicity.
Link – Bandcamp
-Nicolaas Black
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