zxzx - [C]
2023 was the year of the Portuguese. A stunning new swath of Iberian artists brought a new and exciting brand of Luso-techno into the zeitgeist. One artist on the cutting edge of this movement is zxzx, famed for "electrifying performances" at some of Portugal's most established venues. The most recent additions to zxzx's catalogue have been a trio of self-releases entitled [A], [B], and now [C]. zxzx has dubbed [C] as having "the most introspection of them all", and it's easy to see why. Rippling low-end, dense atmospheres and groovy minimalism all combined into a fantastic "Final" release.
C-1 is an amalgamation of sci-fi and campy horror. The track is rich with off-kilter Polyrhythms and space-age synthesisers that swirl endlessly. The chorus of chattering teeth keeps things relatively light, injecting humour and absurdity into the cut. Tensions rise into a much more percussive and denser listen in C-2. Zxzx channels primal energy into leaving plenty of groove for hip-swaying while the chord stops buried in the mix creep, giving a sense of unease. C-3 piles on the sub-bass pressure, creating a deep and riveting big room banger. Polyrhythms return, this time shrouded under shadowy atmospherics that comprise the bulk of the sonic content. C-3 is an excellent finale to the record and the self-released series. It feels like we've travelled straight into the cloudy sub-conscience of zxzx through the dark electronica filled with texture percussion and a bit of jest for good measure.
Tracklist:
C-1
C-2
C-3
Label: Self-Release (2023)
zxzx - [C]
