Trauma Collective Vinyl & CDs

Review: Following up a powerful inaugural release by the legendary Mick Harris (and follow up by ASC), Madrid-based Trauma Collective return with their sophomore release by the enigmatic Makunaimadama. The production process on Katavai was said to be an immensely cathartic experience for the artist, one which saw him work through personal issues, while at the same time paying tribute to his ancestry. Katavai is a disciplined body of work, featuring five expressions of haunting and desolate electronics: from the austere trance induction of 'Konsera', to reduced and contorted techno derivatives explored on 'Waku' or 'Dekaton' and the malevolent sound architecture of 'Wakupemeton'.

Review: Trauma Collective go out all guns blazing with a fierce offering by ascendant Italian producer Sciahriar Tavakoli aka Sciahri (Sublunar Records/Unknot). The Trauma EP is at once an obviously loyal tribute to the imprint platforming him, while being a visceral soundtrack to the gradual setting in of early morning lights. Wasting no time in exercising his sonic assault, opening cut 'Hypnotism' will affect you much like its name suggests on this punishing, splintered- beat body basher, before pummelling you into submission on the strobed-out warehouse techno epic 'Plastic Rain'. He then ventures into the more abrasive shades of texture and gradient on the experimentally minded 'Ava' until getting off-the-grid once more with a descent even deeper into the void, on the knackered closer 'Dead Waves'.