Asteroid's catalogue keeps expanding exponentially. Industrial techno representative and label chief with a very appropriate alias Blasted, whom you should remember from his earth-shattering, Misshapen contribution to Monolith Records in 2016, keeps working hard to bring you more of his purely analogue creations. Italian producer continues the vinyl series of EPs titled Aelien, first episode of which he kickstarted with remixes from Unhuman and Blush Response. Aelien II is presented in the similar vein - two new originals by Blasted backed by two reworks, this time by Monolith Records owner Sirio Gry J and Paul Birken - a one-man techno army from Minneapolis.

    An ethereal, sweet and good-spirited bassline will slowly kick off the 134 BPM-paced opener Reborn in a panning manner, but the serenity of the intro will be quickly interrupted by heavy-duty 4/4 drum kicks running under whizzing, synthetic fields and high-reaching, chirping drops of slightly reverberated acid; from there on in, it's the clash between the gloomy, stressful low range and a cheerful acidic bassline. In his 4-BPM-faster vision of Reborn, Sirio Gry J leaves no window open for light - it's a purely minor key, completely disarming ode to warehouse-held midnight sessions, intended to instantly penetrate the mind's defense system with oppressive 4/4 kicks supported by tightly compressed low bass; these will go hand-in-hand with ghostly ambient soundscapes, noisy claps, short 16/16 bars and 4/4 sweeps that by times spin out of control and become asynchronous to the main rhythm. By the way, have you been having any nightmares of being attacked by escaped patients of a mental institution? Not really? Why, then you should give a listen to 131 BPM piece Arkham! Its resonant, uncanny bassline shaped out of bells will give you the thrills that you are lacking in your life once it kicks in at the second half of the composition; the acid-soaked kicks will keep unevenly striking 4 times a tact, providing the energy required for some boundaryless dancefloor frenzy, while the widely panning, syncopated wooden bars, densely stacked, sweeping short hats and roaring claps will be actively pushing the levels of tension even further. Lastly, Paul Birken elevates Arkham to a pace of 138 BPM, straightening out the kicks to 4/4, and making them more bouncy, employing 1/4 claps, open 6/8 hats and speeding, groove-pooled short bars, while reshaping the bassline into a less sinister, more lively undertone; classic Birken in action.

Release Type: EP

Release Date: 18 September 2017

Release Format: Digital • Vinyl

Record Label • Catalog: Asteroid • AELIEN02

Purchase Links: Bandcamp • Juno • HHV • Hardwax