RODHAD Vinyl & CDs

Review: Rodhad's WSNWG imprint welcomes back the boss man for another great collaborative EP in the form of 'Kallait.' It is the result of some special sessions the two shared when Berlin-based live performer Peryl headed to Rodhad's studio between February and August of 2023. 'Kallait 01' is the opener and is a driving, hard-hitting techno cut with writing synth menace keeping you on edge. 'Kallait 02' is no less high-pressure with its roaming pads and snappy drum and snare combos. On the flpside, there's the dubby, well-swung 'Kallait 03' and more glitchy and percussive darkness of 'Kallait 04' to complete a very handy EP.

Review: Germany's WSNWG offers up the second chapter of its techno story from revered auteurs Ignez and Rodhad. The sound designs in these tracks are next level as the mighty duo waste no time in drawing you deep into their darkened world with 'Verdurous 01 [220207.2]', a streamlined sound but one with punch bottom ends and eerie pads. The tension ramps up with 'Verdurous 02 [221130.1]', a hefty banger laced up with trippy electronics, and then 'Verdurous 03 [220209.2]' is a potent blend of shadowy spoken words and detuned synth madness. 'Verdurous 04 [220208.3]' closes out with loopy drum breaks and wet clasp echoing out into a dystopian world of modular synth magic.

Review: According to the accompany information, VRIL and Rodhad's first collaborative full-length was dually inspired by a desire to "subvert the expectations of their previous work" and the real world phenomena of unusual artefacts that baffle both archaeologists and historians (in their words, "strange anomalies scattered throughout the world"). Musically, the album is something of a slown-burn treat, with the pair slowly ambling between heady ambient soundscapes, buzzing, slow-motion psychedelic techno, creepy and bass-heavy electronic experiments, acid-flecked IDM, deep dub techno and productions that cannily blur the boundaries between these various stylistic touchpoints. As a result, Out of Place Artefacts is a startling and hugely enjoyable collection of mysterious musical movements.