Cacophonous Bling

Friday, February 21, 2025

Maria Amor & Shcuro - Intertwined (Paraiso)

Title: Intertwined

Artist: Maria Amor & Shcuro

Label: Paraiso

Cat Number: PARAISO015

Genre: Techno

A1: Waves Of Hope

A2: Hotspring Love

B1: Waves Of Hope (Fireground Remix)

B2: Hotspring Love (Black Rave Culture Remix)

Each of these compositions represent some sort of fusion. Of what I’m not quite sure, but they travel at such a speed and blend their disparate elements so inconspicuously that there is definitely some sort of respective chemical reaction at play. This is all gobbledygook for what basically passes as techno nowadays. However, this is carried off with a sense of panache and assurance. ‘Waves Of Hope’ has some vocal snippets to lift it above the realms of blandness. It’s remix goes down the heavy, grinding percussive route, gradually working towards the drama that enrobes its final minutes. ‘Hotspring Love’ like ‘Waves Of Love’, uses vocals to distinguish it from the masses and, as such, showing off its rave credentials really works. Black Rave Culture utilise a jungle template to drop it into the depths which, although taking the original’s fluidity away, really works well. Generally the production on this is a cut above. Which is nice.

London Modular Alliance - Holy Mantle EP (Private Parts)

Title: Holy Mantle EP

Artist: London Modular Alliance

Label: Private Parts

Cat Number: PRIVATEPARTSØ5

Genre: Techno/Electro

1: Holy Mantle

2: Walnut

3: Scuba

4: A155

Portentous grooves for a Thursday morning that kind of sum up global instability in a succinct sonic package? Go on then. And ‘Holy Mantle’ is such a track; seemingly blending electro, techno and “braindance” (I really don’t understand what “braindance” is, other than a hybrid umbrella term for groovy IDM) in one easy-to-digest episode. ‘Walnut’ is an dreamy sounding piece of electro. The type of track that the first mudskippers would have heard playing over their primeval heads as they made landfall millions of years ago. ‘Scuba’ sort of carries the vibe on a stage further, languishing in its depth and richness. Probably the stand out track for me from a very strong release. Which ends with ‘A155’, an electro take on machine malfunction. The soundtrack to anti-gravity and machines spinning out of control. Essential shizzle.