- A characteristically fiery remix album.
- Tzusing burst onto the scene in 2014, using techno to explore themes of power, sexuality and obsession. He made a name for himself as one of the most visceral producers on L.I.E.S.—which is a pretty difficult task, given the label's notably gritty back catalog. He's based between Shanghai and Taipei, and his work puts an industrial spin on a sonic palette that occasionally pulls from traditional Chinese music. In the time since Tzusing's acclaimed 2017 full-length debut, we haven't gotten much in the way of new material, as he's focused on DJing and launching his own label, Sea Cucumber. Tzusing's latest release, Next Life, is collection of remixed tracks from his discography, reworked by some of his favorite artists. It covers a lot of textural ground, but no matter how much a Tzusing track is altered, it's never stripped of its signature intensity and propulsion.
The LP gathers a mix of well-known and more low-key players from across the international dance music world, most of him seize on the more aggressive side of Tzusing's music. Beijing audiovisual crew Zaliva-D turn 2016's "Emotional Eater" into a grimy buzzsaw banger. By upping the tempo, Chilean IDM producer Tomás Urquieta makes "Digital Properties" rattle like a rickety train straddling the track. "Esther" was already a pretty fierce beat, but Suda makes it sound downright demonic. When I first came across Tzusing's work, I was struck by how much it reminded me of no wave. Next Life is equally brash, and as spiritually indebted to punk, metal and noise as it is underground electronic music.
The best thing about Next Life is hearing these tendencies kicked into overdrive. Tzusing's work is ominous but often midtempo, landing between the 115 and 120 BPM range, relying on thunderous arrangements instead of fast-paced beats. Here, the Hodge collab "LCD" ends up as clattering drum & bass after Estoc is done with it. Dirty K simultaneously pays homage to Bedouin Records and Black Panther on a searing version of "風雲再起" (arguably Tzusing's signature track). Best of all, Slikback transforms "Shame" into stuttering, cinematic footwork. In their original forms, most Tzusing tracks are gripping, but on Next Life they're almost startling.
In true Tzusing fashion, Next Life could soundtrack an action movie fight sequence set in an opulent nightclub. We've now gone almost five years without another proper Tzusing release, but this cluster of tracks helps fill the void, carrying the same energy that makes his solo output so singular. 11 different artists appear on the record, with 11 very different approaches, all tied together by Tzusing's unmistakable instrumentation. If you shuffled it within the context of his discography at large, the remixes would sound as distinct as the original "4 Floors of Whores" or "日出東方 唯我不敗," making it an exciting addition his catalogue as well as another Sea Cucumber entry highlighting the most ferocious house music from around the globe.
Tracklist01. Emotional Eater (Zaliva-D Remix)
02. Flow States feat. Illsee (Zean Remix)
03. Digital Properties (Tomás Urquieta Remix)
04. Face Of Electric (jondu Remix)
05. Esther (Suda Remix)
06. Tzusing & Hodge - LCD (Estoc's TFW Your Name Is Written On The Ostrakon Remix)
07. Face Of Electric (Hyph11e Remix)
08. 雲再起 (Dirty K Wakanda Theme Variation)
09. Shame (Slikback Remix)
10. Esther (Gabber Modus Operandi Remix)
11. 1976 (Tera Octe Remix)