Spanish electronic producer Artifecal specialises in fusing stripped-back minimal synth sounds with a lo-fi retro-rock aesthetic, and this debut 7” EP on Hex Grammofoonplaten, limited to just 150 copies, collects together four tracks that offer up a distinctly surrealist Casiotone-fuelled trip. On the A-side, ‘I Sell My Blood’ opens things on an eerily atsmospheric tip as heavily processed male vocals float against an ominous ambient backdrop of buzzing analogue synths and sonar-like electronic pings, before ‘Many Different Faces’ sees the rigid dance rhythms locking into place for a jazz-noir tinged wander through relentless drum machines, swirling organ tones and growled male vocals that sits far closer to ‘Why Be Blue’-era Suicide. Over on the flip, ‘Fly High’ sends sinister carnival-esque synth chords wandering against a backdrop of primitive drum machine beats and fussed-out, delay-heavy vocals that feels like it’s almost about to fall apart at any moment, before ‘It’s Not Too Late’ plays a completely different card entirely, taking things out amidst jangling lo-fi guitars, whirling Farfisa organ tones and fuzz-heavy, wistful vocals that nod more towards the likes of the Jesus And Mary Chain. Intriguing and perplexing in equal doses.
Chris Downton
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