Modern Heads
“The Old Beggar”
Cat: outis010
Release date: 02/10/2017
Format: vinyl 12″
Picking up where they left off three years ago, Modern Heads, the much-respected collaboration between Gianluca Meloni and Dino Sabatini, are back with a dynamic and intriguing four track EP. The duo go straight in here with the club-ready Athena. Throughout this track, tight percussive elements wind in and around one another, creating an ever-changing rhythm that you can only just hold onto. Under this, tense synths pulse away, producing an opaque and insular atmosphere. Next up, Eumaeus lightens the mood somewhat, providing clarity with a distinct opening drum pattern. This mood doesn’t last long though, as indiscernible, haunting vocals begin to echo in the distance, gradually moving closer and further in the mix as sharp pads swoosh either side. Side B of the record opens with the deepest and longest track of the EP, Eurycleia. Simple yet unrelenting drums frame this hypnotic sci-fi episode, through which otherworldly screeches and rumbles reverberate over the twinkling sounds of machines. Eurycleia’s atmosphere continues straight into the final track, Laertes Theme. This beatless piece takes Eurycleia’s exploratory mood and extrapolates it over five and a half minutes, resulting in what feels like the perfect soundtrack to a glacial expedition in alien territory. As an EP this is a complete and coherent package; a perfect extension to Modern Heads previous work. The sound palette is familiar, yet refined, developed upon and taken further. The Old Beggar is undeniably worth the wait for anyone with a taste for the extraterrestrial.
Modern Heads:
Combining both artists penchant for hypnotic, cosmic and slightly off-kilter grooves is at the heart of what makes Modern Heads such a special collaboration. Dino Sabatini and Gianluca Meloni’s Modern Heads project began more than a decade ago,
and with high profile releases on Stroboscopic Artefacts, Dozzy Records and Sabatini’s own label, Outis Music, the collaboration has developed into a mature and established techno force. Despite this earned maturity, the music remains as exciting as ever, continuing to push musical boundaries and induce trance-like states of ecstasy among clubbers around the world.
Both members have a prolific back catalog and serious pedigree when it comes crafting beautiful, winding techno, but this collaboration takes things to another level. There’s an otherworldly quality to these releases that has to be heard to be understood. They are distinct and sharp, yet labyrinthine and with just detectable jazz flirtations. It’s unclear exactly what’s going on, but there’s got to be something supernatural happening down at the Modern Heads studio. In 2014 we heard the duo’s first output for four years, followed by an EP of remixes from Claudio PRC, Giorgio Gigli and Donato Dozzy last year.
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