Madrid-based techno producer and dj ORBE is consistently proving to be one of Spain’s most promising artists in the genre, and his new “Fomo” EP off Ater Cosmo is no exception.
Nearly a decade ago, ORBE had his first gig posted on Resident Advisor and has since then maintained his passion, staying busy. Touring much of Europe, he’s also built up a plethora of releases on some exceptional labels since 2015. With an upcoming ambient release on Jeff Mills’ infamous Axis Records just around the corner, ORBE’s dedication to his craft through years of hard work has clearly paid off.
Keeping these accolades in mind, ORBE’s latest “Fomo” EP feels significant and sounds incredible. It is an outstanding vinyl-only release for his friends at Ater Cosmo, a label and record store also based out of Madrid known for selling some of the best house and techno records around. The entire release is tailor-made for these vinyl connoisseurs, and sure enough, “Fomo” EP delivers.
The title track, “Fomo”, starts things off with a steady pace and a classic techno feel. As the pulse of the kick drum begins to swell, a dainty delayed pluck builds anticipation. Layers of distant percussive frills begin to breathe life and complexity into the mix. One quick snare hit with an elongated tail is the only clap you will want or need for this introductory track as it’s placed precisely at the beginning of every sixteen bars, merely to add a short burst of flair and help create the sense of a vast, open space.
Also on the A-side, fellow Spaniard Psyk picks up the pace with a dark and sinister interpretation. The first of his two remixes across the EP, Psyk’s version of “Fomo” feels better suited for a late night in a warehouse. Rather than keeping the main lead small and delicate like in the original, he transforms it into a wild, elongated, and elastic tune. While the use of dramatic delays is still in full effect, Psyk’s remix takes a sonic left turn, daring deeper into the abstract.
On the B-side of the record, ORBE and Psyk pick up the pace with club-oriented track, “Pozdro.” ORBE’s original version conjoins bright and spacey textures with loose and unruly sub frequencies that will leave you delirious and gasping for air. The synth lead in this track violently morphs into ever-changing variations of itself and a disconcerting ringing noise adds a looming sense of impending doom. This track just won’t sit still, and neither will you when “Pozdro” is played at high volumes. To close things out, Psyk’s remix creeps in at 132 BPM, bringing the record to an epic climax. A rolling bass line of sixteenth notes steadily pummels you all while blending perfectly with a hard, clean kick. As Psyk’s glorious melody slithers in and out, waves of ambient sound effects make you feel as if you’ve just opened a portal to the underworld, and everything’s flooding out now.
ORBE’s latest “Fomo” EP is a record you’re going to want in your collection. His two tracks range from sounding classic to cutting-edge, while Psyk’s remixes venture out, all while paying respect to what’s at the core of each track. One can easily imagine how well this new “Fomo” EP will sound on a proper system. Expect to hear more incredible new music from these two talented producers. Support the artists and the label by purchasing a copy via the decks.de page, linked above.
– Jeronimo Watson
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