spatial - infra002
This release encompasses the 10" vinyl (available at Boomkat, Rough Trade, Norman Records and others.) AND one free creative commons track.
Mastered by Transition (90121 / 90113) and Twerk (81012).
Distributed by Cargo.
Design by fréya.
Please Note: Some of the records have been manufactured with the labels printed on the wrong side of the vinyl. The track order is correct at Boomkat has it where 01 is the A side (90121) and 02 is the AA side (90113). One for the discogs crew ;)
Artist Info
Reviews
Cargo Records
“When Spatial’s first EP made its spectral presence felt in the final washed-out days prior to Christmas 2008, bass music’s body electric experienced a new shock as a fresh mutation of the low end virus coursed through its virtual circuits, and listeners tuned in to the twin signals of ‘80207’ and ‘70810’ with such synchronous speed that the record was all but sold out by the time its official early January release date rolled up. With this next double-header sure to enhance his nascent reputation as dubstep’s latest questing spirit, Spatial proves conclusively that sophisticated future garage minimalism can move a crowd just as effectively as more raucous styles.However, ‘Infra002’ is about far more than a self-consciously reductive Berlin-dub-techno-meets-UK-garage-beats clicheacut;: the dark euphoria of original Detroit techno and the most sensuous moments in rave and jungle surge through its bloodstream. Like that of another feted inhabitant of South London’s boroughs, Spatial’s music contains memories of raves past, but as leading bass scribe Joe Muggs observes, these are not melancholic dreams – rather they are thrilling flashbacks to peak experiences. The techno chords, steadily driving junglist syncopation and single looping note of female vocal in ‘90121’ build momentum with the patience and restraint one might expect from a Carl Craig epic, showing how dubstep doesn’t need massive builds or drops to maintain pace, while the track’s very real urgency is the polar opposite of the floaty head-nod vibe normally associated with the words “deep tune”. ‘90113’ taps a parallel stream of breathless tension and velocity, making distinctive use of a four-to-the-floor pulse and the snapping woodblocks, rimshots and snares of UK garage, as its spaces flood progressively with a steady bass throb, moist bleeps, flickering vocal snippets and tingling techno chords.
Like its earlier sibling, the ‘Infra002’ EP arrives in an elegant package, the impeccably stripped-down design of the sleeve perfectly mirroring the well-placed details of the sleek beats within, making it equally a buy-on-sight essential for collectors and box fixture for working selectors."
Boomkat - Single Of The Week
“You may remember us getting a little hot under the collar about this fella’s first 10” towards the end of last year so you know we’ve all been waiting for this one with baited breath. Driving deeper into the world of post-garage and dub techno, this plate even manages to outstrip its predeccessor for sheer bass weight with a couple of cuts that make your head feel like it’s in a pressure chamber when listened to on headphones, seriously. Sticking with the bleached aesthetic of the first 10", track ‘90113’ uses a well considered palette of sonic weaponry, namely cavernous dub chords, tuff garage drums and a subbass movement that made us think the needle had eaten through the plate, glued together in a fashion similar to Roska’s premium post-garage syncopations. Flip it for ‘90121’ and a switch in patterns with the same meticulous attention to detail applied to forward 4/4 steppers mechanics sounding like Substance & Vainqueur if they’d come from London instead of Berlin. These are two choice cuts for any connoisseurs of dub techno, garage or dubstep and come highly recommended to fans of F, 2562, Narcossist, Alva Noto or Roska. Killer!"
Norman Records
“Spatial. My friend Rick has no spatial awareness you know. Every time he comes in my house he breaks something. Must be he thinks he’s still a foetus rather than a large bumbling man in his late 30s. This other Spatial thing is a cool 10” EP of abstract & funky dubstep-y style stuff with a solid, interesting drum rhythm, some subtle wobbly synth flecks and a disembodied vocal sample of a wailing diva in space that’s probably escaped from every LTJ Bukem tune ever. There’s lots of cool sounds and layered effects that build up in expert fashion to create a step-tastic vortex of technically savvy future D’n’B inspired gear. The flip reminds me quite a lot of the recent Bristol stuff, a dub techno flecked groovathon with hearty nods towards the skool of Kevin Saunderson. Very “IDM” looking sleeve too. Ltd 10" on Infrasonics"
Resident Advisor
4.5/5
Arriving in the least ubiquitous fashion possible and delivered with a little mystery thrown in for good measure is the latest 10-inch slice of garage-flecked, Detroit techno-suckling dubstep from the facially ambiguous producer, Spatial. Christening his productions with numerical monikers such as “90121” or “90113” may seem like another way to alienate anyone who isn’t searching specifically for his work but, by not naming them after lost loves or some other nonsense your left with one thing to judge: the music.
With these two distinctly different cuts Spatial positively shines, deeply throbbing away the introduction bars of “90121” before he rolls out a garage drum pattern, swirling house chords and then quick-paced wobble bass into the speakers as the chords dissipate. Arranging the bass in such a way ensures that your ear hangs on for each occurrence as its mid-range sounds delectable over the top of the echoing vocal stabs and high-passed prog synth swells.
“90113” rides a more dub template with the off beat piano framing things in a more half-time swagger from the off as the kick drums become a constant fixture. Snatches of female vocals morph into piano stabs that fade up until they sound out loud on each beat of the bar before they descend back down into some hyper delayed 2562-esque chords, proving in a single manoeuvre that Spatial knows exactly how to transform and meld his synths perfectly.
Shouts
…to wiretappers everywhere :)