- Chunky, heaving techno with a sense of mischief.
- LA-based VPN Radio resident Akumen delivers his most high-energy EP to date on London label La Bonne Musique. After self-releasing a slew of wavey house and trance-flecked tracks, he leans into uplifting techno on Validity Effect. On the opener "Bounce In My Mind" a walloping bassline dominates while a snappy, ultra-repetitive vocal adds a playful feel. These snippets could get lost in thundering bass but Akumen balances each texture, as organ-like bleeps convey a hypnotic quality without diluting the track's giddy energy. Like the EP itself, the tune is a vibrant offering that suits London label's La Bonne Musique's ebullient aesthetic to a tee.