Abstract Division – Relevance EP [LABRYNTH017]

ABSTRACT DIVISION - Relevance EP

Abstract Division venture away from their own Dynamic Reflection imprint for the first time, releasing the Relevance EP for Portuguese label Labyrinth. The deep and repetitive bleeps of “Relevance” suggest it’s a track for peak-time dancefloors during longer sets. Pacou inventively reworks the original into an effective loop made up of the same elements, only upping the intensity, whereas Michaelangelo does away with any bleeps in his version, substituting them for an acid bassline and dissonant synths. Forward Strategy Group maintain Abstract Division’s late night vibe via subtle blips embedded in dusty atmospherics and ricocheting reverberations.

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Abstract Division – Relevance EP [LABRYNTH017]

Forward Strategy Group – Labour Division EP1 [TPT052]

Companion EP to Patrick Walker and Smear’s imminent debut album as Forward Strategy Group, featuring two of its heaviest cuts, one exclusive track and a brace of remixes from Factory Floor. ‘Labour Division’ is a low-slung but shark-eyed warehouse number with shades of Luke Slater’s LB Dub Corps project, while ‘Mandate’ explores darker, more minimal territory, with killer snare edits and scruffily dubbed-out chords, and ‘A Greyed Out Life’ is lush synth dreamscaping a la C2, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream and even early Human League. Factory Floor’s remix of ‘Nihil Novi’ is an interesting synthesis of post-DFA dub-disco drum patterns, analogue synth spurts and industrial accenting; better still is the version of the same track by the band’s Nik Colk Void, a compelling, skin-crawling work of beatless and bass-heavy electronic abstraction in the spirit of Suum Cuique, Mika Vainio and TG.

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Forward Strategy Group – Labour Division EP1 [TPT052]