REVIEW: Arcanoid, Jimmy Edgar+Ideograma, Plant43, Annie Hall – 10.X. (SEMANTICA 10.X – 2017)

This year, Semantica Records celebrates a glorious decade in music with the anniversary series. It’s a journey through global techno, involving artists from Sweden to Japan, from France to Argentina for mostly four-to-the-floor, tripping tracks. The ten-vinyl batch is now peaking with “10.X.”, dedicated to electro that has not been an uncharted territory for the Madrid label, if to recall thematic tunes from Ed Chamberlain, E.R.P., Boris Divider and many others.

Gladly, the contributions from all artists  – everyone of them has previously appeared on Semantica – are diverse on their own way. Spanish producer Arcanoid opens with a symbiosis of synthwave, IDM and dream pop in “Urgull” where the vocal parts are limited to cinematic snapshots but it feels like any moment Robert Smith would start singing. Ideograma‘s remix of Jimmy Edgar‘s “Private” is my favourite. Sounding at the onset like an extraction from hip hop instrumental, it turns to a moaning wonky tune with forceful synth riffs and minimalist undertones. Plant43 keeps pursuing his signature sound between delicate pads and sturdy bass in “Spider Silk Structures” while Annie Hall‘s pensive electro ballad “Kanji” creates rainforest atmosphere for the peace of mind.

Points: 8 of 10

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