CRUZ レコード& CD

Review: Cruz (often stylised as C.ru.z) finds resident resolve in his alma mater 22Recordings, riding the propulsive exhaust trails of 2023's 'Capitulo' with fellow Slovenian slalomer Eliaz through to his own now solo venture, 'Capitulo VIII: Los Anfitriones Del Cosmos'. It would seem that these records have surfaced like lost horror artefacts of some treacherous planetary mining mission gone awry, since we can only find records of issues III and VIII in the series - perhaps the others are locked away in some alien lair somewhere. But the ones so salvaged here have been preserved in pristine clarity, and boy are they delightful, with 'Motor-Pisco' and 'Digital Higher Costs' riding gleeful lead melody-maladies and unisoned, VCO boosted stabs.

Review: Cruz returns to Griffe with the new EP 'La Pasion Paga', delivering a wicked set of five elements in the form of neon-drenched electro and wearable wetware Italo. The title track throws us into an extrasensory fervour, serving visions of streaklit motorbikes burning phosphenic light trails onto our retinas, be this due to the various LED filter-cutoff stabs, flash-photo gated snares or two-tone melodic glow discharges heard thereupon. 'Music Addicted' furthers this sense of lubricious but psychotic drive, as we're continually bewitched and bedazzled by murderous murmurations and piquant flicks and guttural saws, glued by the clever working of police sirens into the mix's distance. B-sider 'Always My Illusion' finds a moment of brief respite, deploying a detuned synth xerogel that glues each otherwise sparse, janky electro element into a well-soldered prosthetic. 'Los Atajos Del Delirio' builds on similar themes of futural disillusion, yet ramps things up to yet another accelerative exponent, ending on a juddering but bittersweet note of finality.

Review: Anthea welcomes Spanish producer C.R.U.Z. onto the roster. C.ru.z.'s live jam arrangements lend well to the overarching mood of toxico-apocalyptic rave here; the 'Secuencias Del Tiempo Perdido' EP contorts to every logical end of acid twinge and direct-current frisson. The darker ends of things are heard on the likes of 'Pensamiento Geometrico' and 'Hospital Del Mar', while a subtler, albeit surreal Italo mood is heard peeking through on '80sLoveParade'.

Review: The Opal label continues to establish itself in the electro realm with a second searing new release. This one comes from Cruz and is a full throttle outing that opens with 'Marine's Odissey', a journeying cut with searching synths and coruscated low ends. 'Tecnologica' has an even more rugged mix of raw drums and kicks and bumping basslines that never allow you to settle. There is increased turbulence on 'Los Misterios' with its zippy low ends and squelchy bass all firing every synapse in your brain then 'Los Finales Annunciados' shuts down with knick-snapping snares and alien sounds bringing the whole thing to life.

Review: Abstrack Future's 4th release delivers a diverse blend of forward-thinking techno and otherworldly electro. On the A-side, Two Phase U's 'Soft Maz' moves you with its retro yet futuristic pulsating electro groove, reminiscent of Drexciyan aesthetics. Mat Roz's '4 AM' on the same side presents a hardcore breakbeat foundation layered with atmospheric melodies and a big acid line, creating a hypnotic and spacey atmosphere. This is unique to say the least! Flipping to the B-side, Manuk's 'Astornauta' takes us on a journey with its breaks and 90s-inspired sound, tinged with Bleep-style elements and an eerie melody. Each track on this EP offers a unique sonic experience while showing Abstrack Future's commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring the outer edges of electronic music.