Imre Kiss & Norwell – Archives [CRISIS008]

Crisis Records returns after a five-year hiatus with Archives EP, a new release from Imre Kiss and Norwell. Recorded between 2015 and 2020, the tracks mark the duo’s first collaboration since their acclaimed Ad Astra EP seven years ago. Across the EP, Norwell’s sparkling arpeggios sit comfortably alongside Imre’s atmospheric pads. The sharp, metallic drum programming anchors the tracks with cold, rhythmic precision, while rich basslines, occasional squelching acid, and eerie vocal samples create a captivating, hypnotic atmosphere. There is a strong sense of nostalgia throughout, with hints of Kraftwerk and Detroit’s Drexciya woven into the sound, yet the pair still manages to craft something that feels distinctly their own.

Imre Kiss & Norwell – Archives [CRISIS008]

Imre Kiss & Norwell – Ad Astra [CRISIS001]

Hungarian producer Imre Kiss inaugurates his new Crisis imprint. The tracks presented here on the Ad Astra EP are in collaboration with homeboy Norwell who has a mutual sonic interest: sci-fi narratives and analogue dedication – combined to reinterpret and evolve the blueprint of electro that it draws influence from. There are expressions in brooding, gothic/noir-ish electro like the title track and “Density Waves”, while “Motor City Dreams” or “Alpha Hertz” go for typically bass heavy and dystopian themes from a 313 state of mind.

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Imre Kiss & Norwell – Ad Astra [CRISIS001]