- "Case (Nabis)" not only marks the opening release for the Brooklyn-based Fifth Wall imprint, but also the first EP from local lad Nico Jacobsen under his Hound Scales moniker. Coining his leftfield hybrid of techno "percussive junta rave," the San Francisco resident's debut comprises five originals and three remixes.
With an air of Terrence Dixon about it, the title track starts in a clash of industrialism that's paced by a rigid sub-pulse. While initially somewhat stilted, the introduction of warped female vocals helps to gel the assembly. "Stasi Flex (Homme Plus)," "Black Bile (Dog Star)" and "Storyville (Too Young for a Devil)" continue this dark voyage into the avant-garde with a disjointed starkness reminiscent of Tobias Freund's audio sculptures.
Marking a dramatic shift in tempo, "Surrender Dorothy" is a comparatively straightforward and notably assured house cut. Following on, fellow Californian Ryan Merry, AKA Ghosts On Tape, steadily evolves, over the course of seven minutes, a melodic loop lifted from the title track into a muscular slab of techno. Meanwhile, Swiss producer Isolated Lines gives "Stasi Flex" a cinematic rework, with British newcomer The Weald delivering a desolate interpretation of "Black Bile."
TracklistA1 Case (Nabis)
A2 Stasi Flex (Homme Plus)
B1 Case (Nabis) (Ghosts On Tape Remix)
B2 Stasi Flex (Homme Plus) (Isolated Lines Remix)