Roberto Auser - Data Desire Disorder

11 Sept

Roberto Auser has transformed his sound to replicate the crispy analogue sound of those old 1980s beat tapes on his latest Dalmata Daniel release, Data Desire Disorder (2024). The bedroom wave music revolution in the early 1980s is shrouded in mystery, as many old tapes are lost to the annals of time. In the time since a select few labels have devoted themselves to rediscovering and reissuing these relics, one such label being Minimal Wave. The sound is typically bold and free of rules, so Roberto's ability to capture and impart the sound of the once-forgotten tape resurfacing into a four-track compilation of different styles held together under one aesthetic is truly intriguing.

From the outset, Data Desire Disorder is gravelly and lo-fi. The limited frequencies emulate the sound of analogue equipment, which lends itself to mechanically inspired music. The raspy highs of decaying pads on synthy dream 'Exhibition' trundle away. It's as if it was recorded on tape 40 years ago—the once-aggressive bass ambles below cutting stabs. Similarly, 'Bring It Round' buzzes as if clipping under absurd volume before wobbling vocals enter the mix. The vocals are shrouded in delay and constantly battle to be understood. Percussion throughout the rest of the EP sounds compressed and frustrated as it struggles to punch through similarly ancient speakers. 'Dreams Of Empty Desire' is electric. Auser condenses techno's brutalist energy into a brief 3-minute. The sound is robust and powerful, considering its imparted technical limitations. Auser closes the EP with this most relatable number, 'It Was Written', which blends hedonism with extravagance, a common theme of the 80s new wave. With its constantly jumping bassline, this final track brings levity while the chords over the top add depth, balancing the cut.

Auser's Date Despair Disorder reinvigorates the musical sensibilities of the 1980s underground. Still, like those old 80s beat tapes, its weakness is its brevity. The EP is almost a musical biopic of the innovative ideas and striking atmospherics these early synthesiser pioneers employed. Now, these tracks aren't plain rehashes of only 80s tapes. Auser doesn't just match a musical aesthetic. Due to the self-imparted limitations, Auser flexes creatively on Date Despair Disorder, giving a glimpse into discovering something special tucked away in your cool auntie's loft for years.

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