Neel - Movimento EP

21 Oct

By now, you should have heard that the minds behind the incredible Spazio Disponibile have reorientated that vision, creating a separate sub-label "focussing on heady dancefloor techno only" under the name Spazio Nero. The first release under this new offshoot promises to be a glimpse into what's to come, and if so, we'll be in for quite a treat. Spazio Nero 001, or the Movimento EP, comes to us courtesy of Neel, an accomplished producer, mastering engineer, and one of the two brains behind the influential Italian label. Neel's sound on this record challenges perceptions of time and space through organic sonic environments.

Putting a label on Movimento is a tall order. It's simultaneously hypnotic and dubby yet relatively minimal while also being percussive. Combining the different styles is exciting for new listeners, and they will surely get grooves on the dance floor. Neel manages to squeeze such depth into his clubby mixes. The tracks are cavernous and reflective, but the bass drum hits hard and close. It's like tardis techno if we take it back to the fundamentals as Neel shifts the emphasis from the large spaces to much closer proximity. This duality of the sound stage and texture makes Movimento feel denser and more focused, yet it still incorporates that all-important Spazio Disponibile sound.

Cavernous is the best way to describe the sound of Movimento. Organic percussion and squelchy synthesisers echo and reflect nearly endlessly, creating an overbearing environment where minimalistic sounds become huge. Take the squeaks on 'Azione', which feel more like the amplified chatterings of bats and mice scurrying just out of sight. At the same time, the galloping rhythm dominates the track and adds a sense of panicked urgency. The same synthesised critters appear on 'Visione', only this time, they're abstracted into a rhythm, leaving room for the dripping spring water from stalactites to take over the hypnotic duties. 'Aziona' and 'Visione' encapsulate Spazio Disponibile, with more emphasis on the dance floor. However, they don't push the sound as far as the Spazio Nero sub-label should.

For me, 'Riflesso' and 'Moto' stand out from the crowd as they genuinely embody this cave-dwelling sound. From the outset of both tracks, an enormous weight is present, an almost creeping darkness that sets in as tiny reflections cascade back and forth within a gargantuan reverb that feels its grip is getting tighter and tighter. Subtle percussive elements sound slippery in comparison to the deep booms of the kick drums, with 'Moto' having grooves that sound like they're played on stalagmites. Modulating atmospheres under ear burrowing grooves allow these minimalist elements to shine without feeling stagnant. Slow builds lead to a cacophony of resident reflections that will drop almost nothing. These little pockets make the second half of Movimento a stronger candidate for the club and the direction that the Spazio Nero label should explore further.

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