Londoner, techno dealer, exuberant techno reviewer, Theo Nasa makes his return to Rekids with the “Fatal Energies” EP. He delivers 3 tracks of fast-paced signature techno, true to his form of hectic, twisted, hypnotic, sample-heavy sounds.
Included in the package is the lead tune “Nina’s Trippin,” which debuted on social media months ago and immediately drew interest from anyone listening with its loopy, psychedelic vocal edits. The last few years have seen Theo Nasa grow immensely from strength to strength, with his tracks releasing on labels like Uncage, Rekids, We Are the Brave, Octopus, Odd, and others; the cuts here continue his unique, irreverent style.
The first track of the EP, “Nina’s Trippin”, is an inspired slab of techno built around a few choice vocal snips lifted from a Nina Kraviz interview. Distorted kicks take us immediately into slightly nasty territory, Kraviz’ voice intoning eerie tones, being stretched and rearranged into witchery. The bass is extremely deep and hypnotic, anchoring the overdriven beat. Synth bits and phrases weave in and out of each other, creating a palette of tension. And as Nina spaces out, so do we. The vocal edits are clever, interesting, constantly shifting and moving in unpredictable ways. Beyond subgenres that techno artists tend to prefer to fall into, Theo Nasa explores truly singular flavors, clearly an expression of his eclectic personality. Most appropriately, the track ends humorously with her sample saying “…That was interesting…” (!)
The title of “She’s a Manoeuvre” tells a story before hearing a single bar. A dark, ravey bass synth pattern establishes the foundation, with soulful diva vocal bits breaking the tension, creating deeper moments, giving this cut a classic techno vibe. The kick drum isn’t distorted this time, driving the tune with the help of Detroit-like snare and clap work. The energy has definitely darkened a bit, questioning synths probing in the fast-paced shadows.
“Dance Like You Are Dodging Bullets” picks the energy up even further. Twisted synth textures drop right in while a frenetic bass groove begins its wild bounce. Spaced out fx create the atmosphere, the environment eerie but feeling almost intimate in its roominess. An added synth playing a slippery sci-fi theme shifts the mood for a changeup, and Theo’s signature humor is present in his choice of vocal samples, lest we begin to take things too seriously. My sonic sensibilities are piqued in this mix, the reverbs dialed in beautifully, not too large, creating hints of outer space but feeling somehow still firmly on earth.
Listen to “Fatal Energies” EP at the link above.
-Nicolaas Black
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