BARKER Vinyl & CDs

Review: Barker's latest release is a masterclass in fluid experimentation, embracing unpredictability with a delicate balance of harmony and controlled chaos. Following his acclaimed previous work, this new collection of tracks finds him refining his craft while allowing for spontaneity to take the lead. Opening with 'Force of Habit', the project immediately sets a tone of shifting momentum, while Reframingithe serotonin-laced lead singleispirals through shimmering arpeggios, evoking echoes of classic trance before drifting into uncharted territory. Tracks like 'Difference' and 'Repetition' and 'The Remembering Self' showcase Barker's intricate layering, weaving together mechanical precision with an organic sense of movement. A deep dive into mechanical instrumentation lies at the heart of this work, with Barker exploring the possibilities of automation not as a replacement for human touch, but as a tool for new forms of expression. The result is a body of work that mirrors the uncertainty of its time, embracing change rather than resisting it. As the final moments of this LP fade out, Barker leaves us with a feeling of transformationimusic that adapts to the moment in which it exists.

Review: Berghain resident and co-founder of the Leisure System label, Berlin's Barker's latest work takes a sharp turn into unpredictability, shaping a sound that's as much about process as it is about outcome. What you hear feels like an unfolding, with each track veering off course, far from its initial intentions. 'Reframing' opens with a brittle tension before unwinding into unfamiliar territories. The tracks build, evolve and drift, embracing the chaos that Barker himself navigated in recent yearsibe it the creative uncertainty or the shifts in the world around him. There's an almost mechanical precision to the rhythm in 'Fluid Mechanics' that contrasts with the organic quality of the melodies, while 'Cosmic Microwave' delivers a hazy, expansive soundscape that echoes the unpredictable journey the music itself takes. The mood across these tracks feels alive with change, an exploration of sound and ideas that never quite resolvesiconstantly shifting, constantly evolving.

Review: Berlin-based producer and DJ Barker has long been an underground innovator associated with plenty of vital labels but he hasn't dropped a new solo EP for a couple of years now. Thankfully he rights that wrong and and steps up to the 30 year strong Smalltown Supersound out of Oslo with a new four track offering that "sees him inverting the musical equation and exploring both the variability and sonic possibilities of a kick-drum." Opener 'Birmingham Screwdriver' will rewire your brain with its fizzing frequencies and skewed bass, 'Wick and Wax' is bright and hyperactive techno-pop and the flipside gets much more raw and dark. A fine return.