‘Minority’
is the latest release on classy German micro-tech label Level
Recordings. Produced by Kaitaro (a.k.a. Kaitaro Nakajima), a Japanese
artist who initially started out as a hip-hop DJ before be sucked
into the minimal house scene circa 2003, he has been fairly prolific,
releasing three EP’s on the likes of Alpha House and Enliven
as well as a host of net only releases. On the evidence of this
EP, a 30 minute 4 tracker, he certainly has come a long way since
2003 as ‘Minority’ showcases some of the most macrobiotic
and perpetually tectonic micro-tech to ever grace the experimusic.com
speakers. Kaitaro certainly knows how to create arrangements that
utilise a dizzying array of micro-beats, tunneling molten-bass
and warped melodics to propel listeners into a fully captivated
state of sonic ecstasy.
In
the micro-tech scene, releases tend to take a while to shift into
sixth gear as they slowly prepare listeners for the forthcoming
onslaught of deep, dubbed out sonics. Kaitaro turns this methodology
on its head and opens with one of the darkest tracks of the year.
Like a fusion of depressed Jamie Jones and ‘Patherns’
era COH, ‘Narcotic’ 1 is the absolute epitomy of euphoric
micro-tech; grinding and chomping away into a dark, ecstatic oblivion.
Depthless, howling bass-churns drive uncharted whilst accompanied
by skittering melodics, sub-aqua mechanics and clinkety micro-beat
shards to literally spin listeners into a tech-heavy frenzy. After
the relatively relaxed and explorative sci-fi tech of ‘March’,
Kaitaro once again commences the driving 4/4 on ‘Cosmo’
to carve out a dark and watery Senking-esque atmosphere in which
hollowed-out beats continually roll off an underwater production
line and drop into a reactive, echo-fueled dub chamber whilst
reverb heavy synths trigger before splintering and resonating
sporadically. Continuing the futuristic sci-fi vibe, the closing
track ‘Washer’ sees a spritely and delicate formulation
of warping quasers shoot off in conjunction with scattering micro
beats and a subtly thumping 4/4 to form an embryonic nucleus out
of which emerges a captivating and skeletal melodic core that
meanders delightfully throughout the track.
With
‘Minority’, Kaitaro has created a fully formed and
vigorously captivating soundtrack to the 23rd Century Berlin club
scene that is loaded with menacing intent and an organic energy
that will have you launching off the dance-floor or the listening-chair
and into the cosmic throws of spaced-out oblivion (KS)
For
fans of: Raster-Noton and Chain Reaction releases, Loco Dice,
Carl Craig @ La Noche Escabrosa, Anders Ilar, Tolga Fidan, COH,
Senking, Ryoji Ikeda, Vladislav Delay
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