- Kompakt’s new sublabel K2 continues to form its identity as an imprint that focuses on minimal techno for clubs with “Where R U?”, three solid stripped back tracks from French newcomer Bastien Grine. For “minimal” read “reduced”. Grine strips away melody and almost everything extraneous, focusing on a handful of streamlined rhythms, beats, and bass heavy grooves. Bass sounds dominate these tracks, and they’re all designed to get hips moving and heads nodding.
Title track “Where R U?” nods its way across the dancefloor (but never rocks out) with a steady, insistent bassline that Grine slowly but surely builds upon over the course of seven minutes. A buzz-like beat, clacking syncopated percussion, and what sounds like a heavily treated vocal sample that is guaranteed to be felt in the diaphragm are introduced as the track progresses. Interestingly, these elements aren’t continually layered on top of each other to build higher and higher to a climax (as would normally be expected); Grine instead prefers to keep the track streamlined and uncluttered, with only a few sounds at play at any one time.
“Pastel” positively vibrates with a throbbing, trembling bassline that creates a wonderfully dramatic tension. The beats come faster here, a mix of snares, hisses, and handclaps that drive the track forward. Despite the faster pace, Grine again shows restraint, keeping the track reined in. “8_2_8” is similarly reduced and restrained, featuring mostly hissing, static beats, and a higher pitched skipping percussive rhythm.
As can be seen, none of the tracks “tell a story” or “go” anywhere; they’re clearly designed to be DJ tools, used as part of a greater narrative. Nonetheless, these are effective tools, and in the right hands will build tension and get a dancefloor moving nicely. Bastien Grine could well be a newcomer to keep an eye on.