Xantrax
Grit EP

Berlin-based imprint Ecke Records has gone from strength to strength over its past three releases, an inaugural VA followed by EP’s from Squallfront and Data Room, in the process cementing itself as a now go to label for leftfield leaning electronica and each record further draws you in thanks to the uniquely designed full sleeve artwork by Ben Fables. Here we see Ecke deliver its fourth release courtesy of Xantrax, a Marseille-born producer and one half of Squallfront alongside the label-founder. Taking the lead is ‘Tekline’, a murky, unfurling cut fuelled by off-kilter tribal drum work, bubbling bass delays and modulating synth flutters. Addison Groove steps up next on remix duties, reshaping ‘Tekline’ with choppy vocal cuts, dubbed out chord stabs and organic percussion floating atop the originals hypnotic groove. ‘Linetek’ opens the flip, as the name would suggest acting as a counterpart to the lead track, taking a 4/4 approach rhythmically while introducing a similar modulating bass line alongside chanting vocals. ‘0121’ then rounds out the package, an angsty, dynamically unfolding composition laid out over four and a half minutes with droplet synth delays, heady bass swells, spoken word vocals and crunchy broken drums.