- Dubby techno, experimental IDM and slow-burning house made with kinetic abandon by one of Washington, DC's finest.
- Picturing soso tharpa in the studio conjures up scenes of a laboratory. Like a scientist looking for new genetic variants, the Washington, DC talent seems to explore drum and synth loops at a molecular level, warping timbres and tones with acute precision. His club-oriented productions often feel like a mutating specimen. Tightly-knit rhythms and melodies seemingly coalesce and diverge throughout a track, with each transformation adding depth and intensity. His latest experiment is Into The Flood, a stellar EP of disjointed house, ambient and techno that's as much fun to analyse as it is to listen.
Loaded with glitchy noises and dense arrangements, this record was made with dramatic flair. There are multitudes of intricately layered harmonies, peculiar samples and indulgent effects but tharpa's hi-definition production makes it work. It helps that all four tracks unfold at a leisurely pace and indulge in delightful breakdowns that highlight each eccentric feature. Clinking and ringing, as well as other digital bricolage, form the backbone of "10 to 1," an IDM and downtempo number that brings to mind Amon Tobin's early collage approach to sound design. On "Sky Piercing Knee," hints of a siren, whizzing noises and slow-mo tinkles can be heard amid sinewy acid and dub techno. The slow build-up of pitter-patter drums, looped vocals and bursts of electrical static on "Aboki Suya" is particularly striking. Hypnotic and suspenseful, the track has a ceremonial feel, as if it's meant to score a process of transformation. "Rivers of Celyon" starts off on a psychedelic ambient note but whispery drone, thudding and clanking sounds soon emerge, lending the track a spooky edge.
The beauty of Into The Flood lies in these idiosyncratic details, which twirl and pirouette in the background. They add an otherworldly touch against the heady percussion and brooding basslines that carry the entire EP. Building on the mystical grooves off Simon's Mind, the 2020 EP that put tharpa on the map, Into The Flood goes a step further beyond abstract dance music by incorporating colour and texture. As a DJ, tharpa has built a reputation for heavy-hitting club and funky house tunes but releases like this show off his appetite for risk-taking, making him appealing to both experimentalists and ravers.
Tracklist01. Sky Piercing Knee
02. 10 To 1
03. Aboki Suya
04. Rivers Of Ceylon