Maltese label Ophan takes its first steps into the world of wax releases with the action-packed “Synthology” EP from OTIS. Having first staked its name as a festival and well-attended series of club events, Ophan has welcomed the likes of Onur Özer, Hicham, and P.O, this first outing also marks the inception of Lithos, a series that will form the cornerstone of the label.
We head straight to side B where we find “Disfunctional” cutting a righteous figure. The arpeggiating piano notes that shift in space as well as position give an uplifting counterpoint from where the gnarly synths to launch from are as tight as they come. The stuttering vox that are a fitting throwback to the hay day of trance and more angelic progressive fit perfectly with the soaring synth line and the vocoded interludes. Rounding out side B and OTIS’s synth-heavy workouts would be more than at home in any credible 80’s action movie franchise and “Beverly Hills Toms” is the perfect way to soundtrack the penultimate action scene.
If the B2 track was the penultimate track then A1 “Relativitet” would take charge of setting the scene for the movie. Funky basslines, dreamlike vocals, and heavy-hitting drums all offer the bedrock for the fluted synths to paint a serene picture. Completing side A and our dive into OTIS’s new creation is “Techno Rock’n’roll” and ths further cements his audacious skill at crafting music that should come with its own feature-length movie. Distorted guitars, bubbling synths, noise snares herald an epic journey that is not let down one bit by the satisfying drop into the undulating groove.
You can pre-order OPH001 at Juno, Decks, Phonica, HHV, Yoyaku, Redeye Records, and Serendeepity.
More info about OTIS
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More info on Ophan
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