Impulsive Art is a new Greek label focusing distinctly on the darker side of leftfield / experimental electronics, and this unmixed collection ‘Thesis Vol.1’ represents their first compilation, as well as their second release overall. A quick glance at the tracklisting certainly gives good indication as to the sorts of dark and atmospheric post-IDM styles being explored here, with several well-known names such as Mobthrow, Mad EP, Larvae and Spyweirdos contributing exclusive tracks amongst a cast of lesser known, though no less impressive producers. In truth, it’s often the contributions from less familiar names here that provide the biggest delights. IP Neva’s ‘Artificial Crisis’ opens proceedings here on a lush, ambient note that’s undercut with whirring unease, with news samples discussing the global financial crisis slowly bleeding out into a wall of delicately ebbing keys and buzzingly disorientating glitchy processing, just before loping, timestretched live drum breaks arrive to propel things off into the distance.
By comparison, Moogulator’s ‘Iron Triangle’ hints at early Aphex Twin with its playfully rolling, steel drum-like melodic tones dancing atop a backdrop of harsh, broken industrial snares, before Tympanik Audio’s Tapage unleashes a stellar fusion of cinematic orchestral arrangements and furious breakbeat DSP action on ‘Last Inhale’ that manages to give the likes of Autechre a good run for their money whilst also easily providing one of this collection’s biggest highlights. Elsewhere, Mad EP’s ‘Wahnbriefe’ sees more leftfield jazz influences coming to the forefront, as swinging, dubbed-out live cymbals ricochet back and forth over the ominous rumble of a sampled thunderstorm, phased wah guitar tones and eerie siren noises, before Larvae’s ‘Shogun’ pushes things towards hiphop-inflected post-rock, with head-nod drum breaks, fuzzed-out bass and shimmering synths fused with droning guitar feedback in a manner that calls to to mind ‘Epistemology Suite’-era Diplo, or perhaps even early DJ Shadow. An extremely impressive debut compilation from the Impulsive Art label, and one that places them in the esteemed company of the likes of Ad Noiseam and Spectraliquid.
Chris Downton
