Threatnique - Clippings, Vol. 1

Like throwing together a pot of fresh greens and mixed spices, individually punchy beats build to a wonderfully cohesive blend of flavours with Threatnique’s first volume of Clippings. The man is a mover and shaker of the local Australian scene (especially in Sydney), whether it’s disrupting the airwaves with messages of beat heads dropping heat, or being a catalyst for local acts to musically express themselves no matter where the venue (even if the venue is no venue at all - shoutout Katiana’s hushclub!) Since Beat Heads first debuted last year I’ve been holding out for a new solo project from Threatnique, and what we got was a pure display of the one-of-one talent and originality of this Aussie instrumental hiphop veteran. Kicks like banging a clenched fist hard on a wooden table, hihats and shakers rattle like they’re metal caked in dust, and snares bust through like you’re kicking down a door. These vigorous drums are laced between beautifully chopped samples and original instrumental embellishments; warped whispers of piano and guitar, and short hits of blistering strings strike like the final battle in your favourite blockbuster. Between beats are moments where you can peep inside his mind, weaving together vocal snippets urging you to not “attempt to adjust the picture” while the “light” pours into the dark room during an electrical storm. The whole thing amasses to something that feels like years of work, not only building his own unique sound but absorbing the emotions of his favourite beats into his own music. He might spend his time championing others in this awesome local scene, but we all know he’s one of the best out here doing it.

KEY BEAT: Men in Stacks - this one transported me instantly into cyberspace, bending and twisting pads weaving around crunchy snares and full rolling kicks.