gradiol - ፨҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉҉፨
Of all the old gems I’ve found over the last few months, this is one of those reeeeaally special ones. A tape so tight you want to run it back as soon as it’s done, gradiol blends down-pitched deep vocals, guitars and saxophone between deeply-textured drum programming that feels like the melodies are constantly bursting through the noise. It’s the placing of these drums that feels really unique - massive clanging snares, kicks that seem to get sucked in with every hit (have no idea how he gets the attack right on that), and hats that flicker immensely, perfectly on and off time in every song. It’s the kind of thing that sounds so cluttered but gradiol gets it to where every beat sounds equally claustrophobic and airy; like the catharsis of a brisk midnight run. It’s truly insane stuff and I honestly have no idea how they made the tape, but am so happy we get to experience it.
KEY BEAT: exp - one of the hardest beats I’ve heard in a bit, this one could’ve come from a beautiful late-80s soap theme but instead is filtered through perfectly layered kicks and the most brutal hard-hitting snares. Immediate gas face with this track.