Barker - Unfxed

29 Aug

Barker's innovations within the electronic music sphere captured the imagination of many, firstly with the release of Debiasing in 2018 and followed up with the Utility album in 2019, as they were widely regarded as some of the most pioneering and fresh-sounding releases. Leaving his contemporise behind by not pursuing aggressively dark, high-octane dance floor weapons in exchange for softer productions that combined weightless trance-inspired synths and rhythmic excellence changed the musical landscape. These two releases on Ostgut Ton challenge listeners to be more patient, allowing a deeper listening experience.

Unfixed (2023) sees Barker return to the Smalltown Supersound label for the first time since 2020. The EP recaptures that magic heard on Debiasing and Utility throughout, particularly with the 9-minute epic 'Wick and Wax'. Borrowing from his previous releases, the pointillist style of high gloss synthesised rhythms coupled with glacial pads is a return to form and a highlight for those itching for another dose of classic Barker. The following three tracks are wildly different from what most fans would expect. Barker adds a new flavour of hyper-efficient industrial sound design to the Berlin-based producer's palette. Barker infuses everything with such a focused understanding of his aesthetic they become instantly recognisable as his work. These hyper-industrial tracks use surgically clean sound design under the creative use of audio effects to chop and screw rhythms. For example, 'Birmingham Screwdriver' is reminiscent of breakcore or brain dance through its unpredictability and reliance on rhythmic flourishes. Likewise, 'Golden Hammer' emulates that same rhythmic complexity. As the track continues, Barker calms the sound design and introduces melodic elements, underpinning the piece with vast oceanic pads, adding depth through bass weight. What may become the new sound of Barker is 'Percussive Maintenance'. It takes the pointillist synth rhythms and recontextualises them using percussive elements, combining them with abstract melodies that stay true to Barker's aesthetic. 'Percussive Maintenance' wonderfully answers, "What if more utility had drums?" If it's true, Barker claims the EP took nine years to finish. Well, it sounds like nine years well spent.

Tracklist: