Behind the healthy noise of the current 140 scene lays the innocent, unearthly sounds of Kodama. Nestled in the sun kissed streets of Barcelona, Kodama has sparked many an emotion across his growing body of work, from 'Cronauer' EP on Subaltern Records to most recently, 'Clear Your Head' EP on Infernal Sounds. Although he enjoyed a couple of features on two of their compilation projects last year, the one imprint Kodama has been destined to grace his presence with is Rarefied.
Throughout their four years of mind bending, experimental projects, Rarefied has taken us on emotional journeys through both the dark, festering undergrowth and the magical, other worldly regions of left field bass music. Their taste has remained impeccable, signing some of the most creative, enigmatic producers in the scene today. And it doesn't stop at RARE15 either, as Kodama blesses the imprint with two compelling tracks, abundant in colour and familiar moments of rarefied intoxication.
Kodama feeds the soul with '2D'. A hypnotic track that politely persuades you to close your eyes, count to ten, and lose yourself in Kodama's new wave of magic and wonder. The heaven fed harps and warm synth lines could be construed as anywhere between hopeful reminders of breezy summer evenings to something deeper and more soul consuming. Whilst '2D' doesn't offer tangible sounds of nostalgia, there's still something rather sentimental emanating from it's core as we continue to follow the elegant melodies and eventually, the endearing, warm-hearted vocal licks that simply drops the jaw. '2D' is wistful and romantic and encourages conflicted thoughts of moments gone by, missed and longed for, with a more optimistic sense for the past, present and the future. A captivating soundtrack carried by smoothly driven bass to keep those subs smiling.
The sister track 'Honeyed', maintains that golden glow with sweet 2-step flavours. Kodama frees all inhabitations with this uplifting 2-stepper, releasing any pent up energy that may be bottled up in the feet of an enraptured dancefloor. Although this is very much an injection of dancefloor energy, Kodama still waves his wand over the rumbling lows and conjures another enchanting creation. A magical manifestation of an alien rainforest, growing in abundance between your ears. Friendly beings chatter between themselves amongst vivid, healthily pollenated flowers and foliage of vibrant greens and blues. It's a world of nirvana where Kodama's shimmering synths are once again the oracle, formulated and modulated in a completely different dimension and language. The melodies grow and transform of their own accord like a flourishing sonic ecosystem, buoyant and bright.
Rarefied continues to be an unstoppable vehicle for those looking to venture away from the beaten path. Plenty of travellers have hopped on and found a home for their mesmeric productions, from the likes of Soukah and Primer. And Kodama is the latest to do so for RARE15, sharing two tracks of carefree bass music, albeit inexplicably stirring and thought-provoking.
A compilation album showcasing the depth and diversity of talent that the Rarefied ensemble have to offer. As a label, Rarefied have striven to provide an outlet for artists to express their talent without restriction. Shades of Violet is the apotheosis of this mission.
A change of format and flavour, this cassette crosses the boundaries of the dancefloor. A plethora of sonic expressions are on offer, from Trap infused Hip Hop to submerged Techno soundscapes. An exercise in originality from reel to reel, this is not one to sleep on.
shu twists sounds from the far reaches of his sample library into an expansive and versatile three piece sci-fi boxset. triple a side number that you won't want to put down.
This year is set to be another vivid chapter for Rarefied, whose special brand of Dubstep has stretched the genre into outer-national and psychedelic headspaces with transmissions from Soukah, T.A.R and Sibla.
The newest artifact from Primer is par-for-the-course. Four tracks that weave field recordings from windswept bogs, worldly sample digging from molding phonographs found in dusty basements, and loose rhythmic constructions that are a mongrel blend of contemporary rap, Croydon Dubstep, and Brainfeeder.
From the ghostly oud playing that graces across the homespun percussion of “Nowhere and Nothing”, the refracted horn sections of “Drowned” to the shimmering addendum of “Tal pt.II, Primer chalks a fine line between headphone moments and dance floor material. Ultimately, the melodic, hypnagogic fragility of “I Had a Faraway Dream” is an especially poignant curtain call for Rarefied’s first record of 2019.
Rarefied’s newest sonic assault finds label mates Sibla and Zygos in some chthonic dwelling performing occult rites for sub bass dominance. Three prime cuts of out-there dubstep for fans of moldy, decrepit basements, decaying houses in the middle of woods, and fog drenched nights.
“The Path” heaves underneath pneumatic infrabass pressure and a din of percussion that sounds like a warehouse falling apart. It lurches forward on broken ankles, scanning with cataract eyes, for its next victim.
The aptly named “Haunted” is built from the ground up on EVP recordings, static hiss, and disintegrating tape reels. A lone scream echoes towards infinity until the mid-way point where black stars crack the void.
The circle is complete with “Sigil”. Hewn together with horror flick soundtracks, whispered voices and a feral half-step foundation. It seems Zygos and Sibla’s golem has breathed life for the first time.
Rarefied return after a deliciously jazzy release from their sister label.
This time label mainstay Zygos is at the helm for a release that blends Rarefied’s penchant for outer-national sample digging, trap rhythmic formations, and psychedelic soundfields for a three track EP that feels like some other-wordly VHS tape found in the woods.
Welcoming back the artist who kicked things off for Rarefied back in 2016. Soukah returns to the label in style delivering 3 tracks, including our first collaboration with label homeslices Primer & T.A.R, and serving it up for us on a slab of 180g heavyweight vinyl.
After almost a two year break in releases, D-Operation Drop returned with releases on Lion Charge, ZamZam & Moonshine to cement their place as one of the finest Dubwise acts in the business.
October will see D-Operation Drop link up with Rarefied to bring three darker, purpose built cuts under the DPRTNDRP moniker, each track carrying their signature production qualities while also delivering a darker edge which is synonymous with the Rarefied imprint.
Onwards and downwards - T.A.R's debut vinyl release takes Rarefied deeper into a world of distortion, compression and the macabre. Bon Ding Ding - time for round three!
After a series of successful digital releases, Soukah bursts onto the vinyl scene, presenting a sound crafted over the course of almost a decade. His past works range from Industrial Noise to his own unique take on Dubstep. RARE1 showcases Soukah's versatile approach to production - His organic style, based on dark synthesis and unorthodox drum patterns, is a true representation of the Rarefied sound.
'JAK FOU' is the result of six months of studio time; the classical piano riff combined with haunting percussion results in an experience akin to ingesting 18 grams of psycobilin. On the flip side 'Loner' is a far darker, moodier affair. Written solely by candlelight, the production evokes the darkest elements of Soukah's soul. This track is best enjoyed alone, in the wilderness.
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