- Ethos is the first compilation from Nous, and features remixes of tracks from the Athens label's catalogue to date. Being only four records deep, this sort of retrospective might seem premature. But it's a testament to the coherence and richness of the Nous aesthetic that it doesn't come off that way. A few moments here sound like textbook Nous, if such a thing exists. Budapest's Route 8 shuffles around the contents of Spoiled Drama's "The Sun in Your Face" but comes out with a very similar balance of percussive muscle and synth waft. The thing feels like it could chug soporifically along forever, and you sort of wish it would. 100% Silk affiliate Jupiter Jax finds a kindred spirit in Moon B's Vaib-R project. His version of "About Freedom" is a touch more euphoric, perhaps, but the casual feel is just the same.
Elsewhere, Californian producer Afrikan Sciences pushes things much further out, as is his wont. In his hands, Miltiades' watery "As We" is boiled into a thick, cosmic soup. L.I.E.S. affiliate NGLY takes the same track in the opposite direction, imbuing it with jittery energy. This latter track and the closer, from the unknown DSYN-T, stray furthest from the established Nous sound. Both are darker, colder, and in the case of DSYN-T's version of Route 8's "C19," significantly harder. They're also not quite as good as their sleepier cousins. But it's the EP's willingness to push outwards, as well as consolidate past successes, that makes it such a solid statement of intent.
TracklistA1 Spoiled Drama - The Sun In Your Face (Route 8 Remix)
A2 Vaib-R - About Freedom (Jupiter Jax Remix)
A3 Miltiades - As We (Afrikan Sciences)
B1 Miltiades - As We (NGLY Remix)
B2 Route 8 - C19 (DYSN T Remix)