Obscure Shape - Zwei Gesichter EP [Backspin Records]

Backspin's fifth release comes from Obscure Shape, who presents a deep and versatile techno EP that lives up to its title: Zwei Gesichter (German for “Two Faces”). Across five tracks, the EP explores the tension between raw force and emotional depth, combining the label's Hardgroove roots with a more introspective approach.

Side A presents Obscure Shape's first face: it opens with Zwei Seiten, a direct, unadorned banger that hits with immediacy and drive. Im Angesicht Der Zeit, the single, leans into groove and movement, offering a more fluid, time-aware flow. Die Haut In Der Ich Wohne reduces everything to a minimalist, cyclical hypnosis, evoking the idea of inhabiting one's own skin. On Side B, which showcases the producer's second face, Spuren Des Werdens—featuring AMIYE—introduces more melody and saw-like synths, reflecting growth and transformation. The closer, Von Hoffnung Getragen—also in collaboration with AMIYE—takes off with ethereal vocals and a dynamic rhythm, embodying the hope that drives us forward.

With the Zwei Gesichter EP, Obscure Shape builds a powerful narrative through groove, form, and emotion, perfectly aligned with Backspin's evolving reinterpretation of early 2000s techno.