Formally Unknown - Untitled

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  • The first release from Muscovite duo Formally Unknown is a derivative slab of rough-hewn techno that reaches for the crunchy heights of Blawan but comes up short. The A-side especially is a thin facsimile, its drums locked to the grid with none of the rhythmic frisson that makes an act like Karenn so exhilarating. Without that energy, the elastic sub that crackles and wobbles is a mere pussycat, despite its growl. Elsewhere, smarter programming brings more success. There's turbulence in "Tribalz"'s clatter of bongos and toms, and when a redlined off-beat kick starts up you can imagine strobes igniting clouds of dry-ice in some low-ceilinged dive. But the mid-section's muzzled synths smooth the roughness; bolting together the opening and closing thirds into a barking percussion tool might be a good idea. The digital-only "Will Never" betrays a similar lack of confidence, clouding a spluttering groove and bass combo with cloying vocal stabs and reverb that disrupts an ace low-end snarl. There's a bank of solid ideas here, but they need finessing.
  • Tracklist
      A Untitled B Tribalz
RA