- Unpredictable but sometimes bloodless club tracks.
- Barnt's latest release opens with a guttural power chord. It morphs into shards of panned static that resemble the lead synths often used in progressive or EDM, bringing to mind Lorenzo Senni's "pointillist trance." Barnt's manipulation of sound is unpredictable, hard to describe and interesting, yet it drives away from the visceral energy of "Schalen"'s opening moments.
The rest of the EP conjures a steely palette and austere inflexibility. "Local Fame" and "High Hopes" are blunt beats that pump like industrial machinery. They might work better with something to soften the blow, but a lack of tonal sounds alongside these bare, hammering rhythms means the tracks come off aggressive yet bloodless. I end up craving a splash of color akin to the expressive squeaks of 2012's "Geffen" or the brawn of those power chords.
Tracklist01. Schalen
02. Local Fame
03. High Hopes