Robert Koch debut album for the Project Mooncircle label, Death Star Droid has been very well received, crossing over into common ground for many fans of Dilla beat science, dubstep bass pressure sensibility, grimey dancefloor experiments, and Various Production style future r’n’b.
What we have here is a remix EP, almost like a who’ who of current beat experimenters. There are some names here that have only just come to my attention, which is exciting as the quality here is outstanding, motivating me to seek out some of these names for further audio exploration. Future r’n’b represented here with the first two tracks, “Blind†featuring the sweet tones of Grace, and the collaboration with Body Language, “New Dayâ€, but the pressure is intensified with the following remixers. fLako remixes “Death Star Droid†into an electroid Dilla-esque futurescape, Loops Haunt remix “Gorom Senâ€, shredding and pulverizing the listener with shards of sound bouncing between bass drops, just imagine Kryptic Minds being remixed by Autechre, the highlight for me, true futuristic music. Shlohmo also remix “Gorom Sen†chopping the African sounding chant to infectious effect, riding on a head nodding beat and bubbling and gurgling synths. “While†featuring Manya takes us into haunting sounds with Blue Daisy’ remix, being compared to the stylings of Burial, influences rooted in garage, with an ambience that consumes the sounds and the vocal until only a ghost remains. “Gorom Sen†is further remixed by Body Language, Beat Laden, Talen and Phon.o in a more dancefloor friendly format with varying success. Talen drag up fond memories of Pharma records productions from the mid 90′, bass music for robots on another world, but it’s the closing Phon.o remix that shines, looped building synth melodies underpinned by modern dancehall beats, uplifting and infectious.
Any discerning crate would benefit from the variety on this EP, Project Mooncircle have surpassed 50 releases, growing in strength with each release, further showing for a small independent label, they are at the front of the pack leading the way showcasing some exciting new producers in future beat science.
Wayne Stronell
