A perfect match-up of talent, artistry, innovation, and experience is wrapped up within Setaoc Mass’ newest offering, “Working Ways” EP, on Blueprint as he is added to the label’s impeccable roster of the Techno vanguard.
Writing this review is as simple as falling off a log, because Sam Coates, aka Setaoc Mass, has been at the forefront of Techno with his own releases on SK-Eleven and SK-X, curating his own vision for the Techno world for quite some time. He’s been an inspiration to everyone who’s felt the extreme frustration of trying to nail the perfect kick or struggled to find the right amount of darkness-meets-innovation and hypnotic elements and energy within the Techno genre. And for Blueprint, it’s an easy pick up, since his sound fits their vision. And yet, they’ve allowed Setaoc Mass to retain his sense of character while it feels he’s meeting them halfway on their catalog’s particular sound.
A solid example of this would be on the track, “Move in Shadows,” where it’s the Blueprint aesthetic taken down to a grimy and dark place with this overbearing presence that is indescribably powerful. Picking it apart, the intense drone cut against the perfectly crafted and forceful Setaoc Mass styled kick is really quite breathtaking. The shakers are sneaking around in the mix with filtering and velocity, giving the whole track an impending sense of foreboding and power. Your thoughts are primal and wondering what’s out there in the shadows? What is the intent? Well, obviously it is to tap into this subconscious fear where your only relief is at the end, when your feet hit the ground running with the rides and grooving kick and solid shaker pattern.
Similarly, we have “Hide and Seek” which also utilizes an uneasy drone, but the elements are placed in clear view in the mind’s eye. They still remain intangible or possibly too far away to catch. It’s the subtle panning that always seems to pull the synth parts and sequenced synth in and out of the stereo center in a very enticing manner that you want to catch, but they are either set behind one element or another, moving too fast to reach out for, or come in and out before you notice them. This very creative use of sound design here is leagues ahead of the vast majority of producers out there in any genre.
“The Eyes Don’t Lie” is based around this repeating phase that is quite hypnotic and really takes you out of your skull. Meanwhile, everything put against it is a contrast in opposition to this line. It seems like Setaoc Mass really nails it with the scratchy top-end, fast claps, and interstitial strings. Lastly, “24 Hours” strays away from the super warm bass the artist is known for in favor of exploring layering a heavy and dissociative tightly woven set of elements that are essentially sensory overload. It’s presented in such a way that it’s too much to handle, and your brain just kind of shuts down. In the context of a DJ set, it presents a fantastic opportunity to shovel anything in as the next record.
Summing up and simply put, this “Working Ways” EP is why we listen to Techno. The amount of creativity and careful attention to the placement and interaction of all the elements really paints a picture in your mind that is very much not present in any other genre. And to mess with your brain in such devious and psychedelic ways, it’s just absolutely unparalleled. A real shout out to Setaoc Mass and Blueprint for being a true guiding light for the scene on this release. The “Working Ways EP” is both impressive and literally awesome.
-Sean Ocean
Check out Dirty Epic music recommendations here.
Listen to our podcasts here.
Find out more about our Events here.
Listen to our review picks here.
