- Olympos is a new series of EPs from established producers operating under the guises of Greek gods, each artist remaining anonymous until the label's full run is complete. The first release comes from Hephaestus, the god of fire and craftsmanship. It's an auspicious debut, with labyrinthine, 12-minute tracks taking up each side. The sound is split somewhere between minimal and the high-tech machinery of artists like Akkord. This techno is detailed without ever sounding dense.
Once it gets going, A-side "Lavin" ("take") is a barnstormer, slipping into a funky, electro-inspired groove in its midsection before slowing back down into spacey downtempo and unspooling into ambient. There are implacable electronic noises throughout: jittery basslines and all kinds of ear candy make the music sound alive. On the B-side, "Dounai" ("give") has a simpler, 4/4 beat and bleepy synth motifs that merge into a storm of sustained chords and whirring organs. It's prog house in mood and prog rock in scope, as epic as the myths that inspired the series.
TracklistA Lavin
B Dounai