Nørbak - Flauta [Token]

A natural fit for the Token label and now a regular contributor, Nørbak presents his newest release Flauta on the Belgian imprint. Keeping the pace dense and energetic, his productions possess a raw intensity that continues to describe expansive spaces with thundering atmospheres.

The title track serves as a firm introduction to the project; Flauta is a quintessential Nørbak A1. With claps on the kick drum, dense sound design across the board, and tribal percussion, it comes across as an imposing first track. Finding the groove in chaos is never hard for the Portuguese artist; his seamless combination of functional and mental techno yields a quite recognisable and assured-to-hit sound. On the other hand, his follow-up track, Despida, sharpens the tone and zeroes in on its elements. Proving he can make just as much of an impact with a more minimalist approach, Nørbak replaces claps for shakers and creates a distorted stab as the main element of the track. Despite the versatility of his productions, there’s something very homogenous in the tonality of his drums and synths - they seem electric, and Despida really nails that aesthetic.

Moving on to the B side, we find yet another facet of the project. Though Golpe has a classic foundation, Nørbak’s outlandish sound design guides the track’s arrangement, pulling it away from being a mere loop. The structure of the record creates clear accents that insist on a pulsating atmosphere, moving perfectly into the EP’s conclusion. Camarada more closely resembles Despida in its minimalist construction, keeping many of the screeching lead textures. Mastering the call-and-response style in techno, Nørbak manages to harness the tonality of his sonic experiments to create swing on the dancefloor. Dark, fast and elusive, Nørbak closes Flauta with both restraint and efficiency.