rkeat - Indol [Side B]

Presenting the inaugural release of the newly minted SIDE B imprint, rkeat takes the reins with an impactful four-track EP that sets the tone for what's to come. Born as an event series, the Portuguese label champions straight-up, hard-hitting club records, and this first release is no exception. With a hybrid spirit, rkeat delivers a fresh take on techno that maintains consistent percussion yet is explorative in every other way. The experienced producer places precisely designed textures at the front and lets the rest flow naturally, creating an intriguing and versatile sequence of tracks. In each chapter, rkeat manages to fuse precise textures with intricate sound design, allowing each sonic detail to shine on its own.

Indol’s first side introduces spatial elements that create an atmosphere laden with elusive melodies and enveloping ambiances. Driving forward with impactful percussion, rkeat guides us through a sonic ecosystem full of unexpected twists and turns. End Of Tips, on the second side of the record, is a little more outgoing, with rolling basslines and sixteenth-note hi-hats. Opening the B-side with groove while maintaining the sonic direction of the A-side, rkeat closes the record with Indol, the EP's namesake track. A cunning hybrid of genres, this last chapter blends syncopated rhythms and breaks with the earliest explorations of German techno. With impressive force, Indol closes the EP as a truly captivating debut that promises an exciting future for the label and its catalog.