- High-definition techno and industrial from the producer formerly known as Avatism.
- In recent years, you could track a certain stylistic growth in the output of Thomas Feriero. The Italian producer's Avatism alias, once known for a sleek, rolling style of tech house that was at home on labels like Vakant and Souvenir, began to open up with forays into tougher, syncopated techno and breakbeat. This year, Feriero cemented the switch-up by unleashing an industrial-strength new project, Maenad Veyl. It first appeared on Pinkman and Oliver Ho's Death & Leisure, followed by the nascent Veyl label he runs alongside Vakant boss Alex Knoblauch.
Not What You See, Not What You Feel is the second six-track Veyl release, and much like the prior effort, The Acceptance Ov Not Knowing, it has Feriero reveling in distortion and noise as he blurs the lines between electro, techno and industrial. Overdriven 808s and scorched-earth synth blasts are the norm. "Disembody," driven by a relentless broken beat, quickly shifts into high gear, finding a sweet spot between "No Irony"'s stoic EBM march and the freewheeling drum attack of "Coming To Grips."
Things get deeper on the B-side. "Conflict Construct" pairs widescreen pads and noir-ish stabs atop a low-slung framework of drums, while "Vertigo" stomps like "No Irony" with more teeth. "Mistake Specialist"'s mellow, wide-open soundscape emphasizes each crispy fill that emerges from its percussion sequences, proof that a little restraint can go a long way. It's the promising highlight of another rock-solid Maenad Veyl record.
TracklistA1 Disembody
A2 No Irony
A3 Coming To Grips
B1 Conflict Construct
B2 Vertigo
B3 Mistake Specialist