Published by Davide Pappalardo on May 15, 2018
In the past, we had the pleasure to interview Unhuman (Manos Simotas) and to review his EP Alpha-Omega and his work with Francesco Baudazzi (Obtane, Violet Poison) as Aktion Mutante. The Greek artist, located in Berlin, is the mind behind a series of cassette and 12” releases where he moves between noise, EBM, techno, drone music and much more, and he has developed the conceptual art project/label called Liber Null Berlin.
Now he returns with a five-track cassette called Shadows, Fire And Spirits for the Dutch label Strange Therapy. This time he focuses on Hard EBM/electro-industrial rhythms and dark techno structures, building engaging and obsessive cyber-matras engulfed by bleak atmospheres and a strong tension. Three original songs and two remixes have made the cut, giving us a hypnotizing experience mad of pounding beats and sharp bass-lines. His vision is very close to the one of artists like Crystal Geometry and SΛRIN, following a militant sound and apocalyptic soundscapes.
Shadow of the serpent is the opener, a grooving beast built upon strong rhythms and looping synth-lines, endorsed by dark innuendos and old-school motifs recalling the very first sound of bands like Front Line Assembly. A caustic march displays the nature of the track, while eerie soundscapes make their move in the background. On the B side of the cassette the track is reworked by German duo Fallbeil as a more atmospheric version, almost using a dub approach by slowing down things and adding reverbs and echoes. An even more brooding and obsessive take on the song, with riffing samples and compulsive moments.
Fire rash peeling seems inspired by the Aktion Mutante experience, using industrial rhythms, pounding structures and menacing synth-patterns. A synth-punk approach can be perceived, as wall as the influence of old-school electro sound. Minimalistic crescendos and looping sounds are the main theme of this track, in a scene completed by cosmic effects and futuristic atmospheres.
White bone spirit is a crawling affair with droning electronics and minimal sounds, interspersed with filtered robotic vocals. It slowly builds its path, adding elements until it reaches a noisy and mysterious pattern. Eerie ambiances and sombre creepy atmospheres close the number with their dark elements. Post-punk/techno artist Autumns remixes the track on the B side on the cassette, conceiving a more dynamic version with faster bass-lines and hard-hitting drum kicks and beats. Tribal rhythms are added during the path, as well as well blipping sounds, while the dark and eerie effects are not forgotten.
Following suit with his last Ep, Unhuman explores here the world of techno/EBM with dark undertones and strong rhythms, in line with the neo old-school take on the genre which is gaining recognition in the world of underground electronic music. Abrasive sounds, fast bass-lines, obsessive beats and looping synth sounds are the keys for a cassette showing the development of this side of the artist, and at the same time of the newborn Dutch label which already gave us Tomohiko Sagae‘s Deba Bocho and a great compilation called Rough Treatments part 1. We are waiting for more to come!
Label: Strange Therapy.
Rating: 7,5