- Leaving for the City of Saints is the seventh edition of Other Heights' highly limited White Label series. Mining the cavernous house and techno netherworld, releases to date have seen artists such as Bristol-based Kowton share wax space with Holland's Boris Bunnik (Conforce / Mi-24) and Mohlao with a curator-like sense of vision. Here that comes through in a package showcasing a track, remix and two collaborative works from Russian producer Ghostek.
I used the deep sea analogy for Ghostek's digital debut, and this time he plunges further still. In "Cryon" the scissor-y hats have been replaced with razor blades that slice up the Burial bed of hazy choral-soaked and crackling white noise. There is nothing steppy or broken about it, though, as it's propelled instead by a sunken bassline at chugging techno pace. "Leaving for the City of Saints" and "Known All the Days" come from his pairing with London-based Roof Light, as Ghostlight. Roof Light's own discography journeys through downtempo electronica and euphoric, drum & bass-teetering dubstep, to deep house and UKG. Even so, compared to "Cryon," "Leaving for the City of Saints" feels a little standard. The scissors are still being thrown around, but they're nowhere near as sharp or menacing. There are a few odd noises rattling about but otherwise it contains none of the mystique that makes Ghostek's solo effort here such a standout.
"Known All the Days" is more emotive than beat-driven with just a middle spattering of percussion sandwiched between ambient airy vistas and a plaintive vocal that would appeal to fans of the Skynkro heart-bleeders. Saying that, Ghostek's "Die" remix is the most poignant off the EP. Harrowingly macabre, of Leaving For The City Of Saints' four tracks this is the one that will haunt you. A mixed bag in all, but I think that was exactly the point.
Tracklist A1 Ghostek - Cryon
A2 Ghostlight - Leaving for the City of Saints
B1 TH - Die (Ghostek remix)
B2 Ghostlight - Known All the Days