Imperious - Modus Operandi [Sum Over Histories]

Format: 12" in printed sleeve.
CAT: SOH012

Modus Operandi, an EP from Impérieux, is the latest release from Sum Over Histories, Frankey & Sandrino’s imprint which champions introspective sounds for reflective times.

There is an air of mystery around Impérieux. The Bulgarian-born artist prefers to avoid the limelight, choosing to meticulously work on his music, building a sound influenced by the Sofia underground scene and his Turkish roots.

Impérieux started producing Modus Operandi in Bulgaria and continued it during his move to Berlin last year. He says it was a melancholic period; facing culture shock and a new language was already challenging even without a pandemic. This EP is a reflection of that time. Dark and introspective, minimal and surreal, Impérieux drew inspiration from the fantastical worlds of novelist Murakami and titled the tracks after his work.

The opening track, “Mondbad”, is a contemplative house production, with sparse percussions and dreamlike melodies. It’s not an homage to the dancefloor, but to the intimate space, to those moments we’ve all experienced too often this year: those when we only have ourselves. In contrast, “Terra Incognito”, with its vibrant hi-hats, glitchy synths and resounding brass, conveys optimism and urgency. Here, the full spectrum of Impérieux's talent is revealed: the producer knows how to evoke emotion in the listener, when to add elements and when to remove them, creating a transformative sonic experience.

Impérieux’s influence and biography shine through on the title track, “Modus Operandi”. It is both a nod to the artist’s Turkish heritage and a declaration of love for analog house, celebrating the genre’s ability to connect continents and cross borders.

With tracks as versatile and genre-defying as these, there’s no doubt that Modus Operandi reveals Impérieux as a top-tier producer. It wasn't easy to convince him though: “Sandrino already had the tracks and wanted to release them,” Impérieux says. “He even encouraged me to release them even if it wasn't with him. I was very skeptical, but he managed to change my mind and here we are.”

Sandrino adds: “As soon as I heard these tracks I knew they had to see the light of day. The way Impérieux translates his experiences and emotions through music is unparalleled. He's a phenomenal talent and we’re thrilled to have encouraged him to share this EP with the world.”

Frankey says: “Our goal with Sum Over Histories is to champion new and emerging talent from all over the world. Impérieux’s eclectic background and emotive style fit perfectly with the musical experience we want to share with our community.”