Amsterdam based label Leyla Records delivers four delightfully sinister tracks straight from the murky waters of the techno underworld, on their latest various artists’ compilation.
‘We don’t talk much” the opening track declares, and it quickly becomes apparent why. The latest VA compilation on Leyla records is not to be spoken over, nor will you want to. These dark and edgy techno tracks each offer a unique take on the genre, all while basking in the same sonic pit of mud and sludge. This music is filthy, grimy and at some points even disturbing, but oh so appealing when looking for the perfect soundtrack to take the debauchery of an illegal warehouse rave late into the AM. That said, for only having four tracks on this compilation, it manages to cover a lot of ground. From the strung-out, delirious intro, to the futuristic rave anthem on the other side of the record, “Unwitch – Break The Pretense” is versatile, but consistently dark.
The first track will have you shut up and listen. “Done Talking,” the initiating track by Swedish producer Peder Mannerfelt, is a gritty, pumping techno jam that is refreshingly juxtaposed by manipulated samples of upper-class British voices. Modulated to perfection, these voices go a long way to keep you in a paranoid stupor, asking yourself, “Are they talking about me? How much do they know?” Raw and stripped down snares, distort and excite, while a pumping kick and bass keep things moving.
B1 of the record takes on an entirely different approach, but could also be used to electrify the same party. “Hyper Correction” by CASKO, is what ravers in the early 2000s would imagine techno to sound like in the year 3000. This track is simply epic, with explosive synths, a hyper fast pace, and a ruthless low end, it would very much be advised to save this track for the grand-finale of your next dj set. The tune dramatically swells, as noisy pads phase and flange up, up and away, preparing the listener for an explosive drop. If you let your imagination get away from you, one could imagine this anthem being played onboard the first ever rave on an alien spacecraft, unifying all forms of life with the ideal soundtrack to celebrate a newly rectified intergalactic peace treaty. The energy of this tune is next level and is certainly not intended for the faint of heart.
Tracks two and four on the release share a rough and rambunctious quality, in this case serving as the common thread that ties this record together and gives it more cohesion. “HAKRI2” by Go Hiyama, revolves around a looping deep, rattling plucked string instrument of Asian origin, one of the few organic sounds in the composition. Around the pluck loop is a cacophony of dense and disorienting percussion, so complex that you may lose track of the downbeat. Imagine taking a handful of your go-to claps and snares, throwing them in a blender, pouring out the contents, and what you’re left with might sound like Go Hiyama’s snare. Similarly rhythmically dense is the final track “EVOCATORS” by 6SISS & MAERE. This track is exceptionally dark and intense. Nearly every element in this track, from the pounding kick drum, to the reverberated female vocal whisper, receives a healthy dose of distortion at some point of this tune. The track playfully toggles between timbres of long, clean reverb tails and gritty and rough textures, resulting in a well balanced, but admittedly quite chaotic expedition into the underworld. Enjoy the ride.
“Unwitch – Break The Pretense” is an unapologetically raw and devious techno compilation. One can’t help but appreciate the absence of safe and familiar, watered down tropes that have infiltrated so many of the techno productions we come across today. This compilation by no means attempts to give any leeway or platitudes to a less experienced audience of techno fans, a sentiment that is instantly communicated upon first glance at the record’s artwork. Leyla Records is not putting out music for anyone other than those who can tolerate a heavy dose of dark intensity, who bask in the muck and feed off the sludge. The record has been out as of July 9th, so purchase a digital download or treat yourself to a physical copy via the link below.
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