What: “Untitled” by Raw n^d
Netlabel: HAZE
Raw N^D is an experimental electronic music artist from Minsk, Belarus. His “Untitled” album on the HAZE Netlabel (released in August 2012) is a really varied and absorbing mix of electronic pieces. Lots of the electronic music I hear can lapse into pretty boring basic techno beats. This collection is refreshing; it has more accessible pieces (like “Elementary Waves” with its almost pop rhythm and melody, overlain with some slightly distorted sounds) mixed with the more abstract (like “Log 1.0.4,” a sound collage with a beat). Overall it’s a nicely textured and paced album. There is a lot of interesting stuff going on here.
Standouts for me include “Urban Stereo Erotic Foto,” which comes on with a strong techno beat, but intertwines with distorted pop sounds and ambient waves. At time it’s like three distinct songs playing together, but they move in and out of the focal point always pulling for your attention. “Sphere & Core” is driven by a heartbeat and seems to have electronic water spilling over its sides. And “Corpus C” with its polyrhythms, mixed with harsher electronic sounds. Open-minded fans of electronic music should get on this one!