Redshape stars in another deep tripping, sci-fi odyssey on his imprint for Present 16. Opening ‘The Gate’ reveals a slow but surely building burner that is classic Redshape, ripping the space-time continuum fabric apart at it’s spoken word climax narrating of solar winds, cosmic ray particles and the speed of light. Heed the track’s unmistakable call and take flight on an interplanetary elevator with parched, bone-dry percussion, twisting lines with propulsive bass and growls that rumble underneath, enveloping you in an air cabin of Jedi-level sound design prowess. The ride truly begins next with ‘Voyager’. It’s all aboard a throbbing deep low end countered by floating, melancholic sustained chords with twinkling bleeps and fading bloops that light up like the star-studded Milky Way. Frantic hi hats and modulated percussion work keep riders on the edge of their seat through this fantasy space-age joyride at warp speed.

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Redshape returns to his own label with a retrovisionist release that looks back in time as much as it looks forward to the future. Revving up on the A side is ‘Shift’, a propulsive hurtle to the final frontiers. Starting off ominously with just drums, bass and a Pollock splatter of toms, the track is soon overrun by an army of relentlessly running basslines, let loose to steer in and out like searching headlights on a dark and endless highway. With a heavier kick, the track shifts into top gear with pensive pads soaring overhead, mesmerising squeaks and his signature attention to percussive detail. On the flip is ‘Drive’, which switches gears down a notch as an astrospace cruise along intergalactic coastlines – from summery California to shiny Coruscant. A rounded pounding beat with heavy sub bass bounces along to a breezy tropical melody and spacious percussive work, before riding off into a cinematic sunset that is as nostalgic as it is hopeful of the coming dawn. Once again on the edge of spatial sound but grounded in analog warmth, Redshape has presented a revision of classic record productions that truly punches as it is meant to be felt and heard – on wax.

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The ever-enigmatic Redshape returns to his own label Present with this propulsive and decidedly unearthly release. Bleep Repeat makes for a potent first track. Here, a thumping step gives way to synth lines that sting and swell across solar systems. Things get headier, grittier, reaching a furious and frightening rush with spectral soundbites to match. A homage to UK rave sounds, this track perfectly captures the uncanny pairing of aggression and rapture at the heart of 90s bleep. Paper Blades follows, a celestial soundscape punctuated with hissing breakbeats and a sinewy bassline. Rippling acid lines beam along the astral plane, and a hallucinatory, near-liturgical melody meanders all the while. Spaced-out yet inexplicably driving, this track is elevating, enveloping definitely one for transcending.

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Redshape returns to his own label with a new two tracker! Always a bit special to have a new Present release… and this is no exception. Playful Detroit inspired techno from the Man with the Red face that’s slowly building and gently seducing the floor.

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