The sixth vinyl release of the Valencian label HC Records is signed by the legendary brothers John & Paul Healy aka “Somatic Responses” in “Interlinked Ep”. To talk about them is to talk about real heroes of the history of the most personal, raw and abstract electronic music born in Wales. Active since 1994, to this day they continue experimenting with all their analogical stuff to compose with tremendous regularity.
The neural connection of wet cable with the Somatic Responses universe begins with “Satin Armour“, a stunning and beautiful electro melodic track surrounded by rough rhythms and strange atmospheres like a rose protected by steel thorns. Raw, primitive and rough rhythms are the presentation card of “Snake“; a track with a marked industrial influence where an avalanche of beams and Martian LFOs, with a marked acid taste, develop along this primitive discharge of high electric voltage. The mechanical and industrial force hits our prefrontal cortex in “Interlinked (Cell Mix)“, a sonic aggression that combines all the violence of the Intelligent Hardcore Techno with an avalanche of mysterious and fatalistic auras coming from a future Cyberpunk.
“Aria” inaugurates the B side of the vinyl in a demonstration of harmonic virtuosity and synthesizer juggling, seasoned with a whirlwind of accelerated broken rhythms totally saturated with emotion, passion and hope. The album’s farewell track is “Heading South”, a strange emotional trip, with velvety cadences and dreamy pads seen through a stereogram, a potential anthem.
Four digital bonus tracks complete the journey through the dark future designed by the Healy brothers: “Dolaucothiacid v2” is an advanced and sharp experiment in several layers of pressure and distortion around the amalgam of possibilities of the stacking of corrosive sequences and abstract structures.
“Automaton Reign” reinvents all the concepts of the most acidic and vengeful Techno Industrial, a merciless brain-roller. Persistent Illusion infiltrates us in the middle of an epic and decadent combat of space cruisers where nobody survives, rhythmic rage and metallic histrionics. We don’t abandon the forcefulness or the post-apocalyptic hysteria in “Cell (Loquelic Mix)” a demolishing closure that connects us fully in the already tangible man-machine connection.
Somatic Responses – Interlinked EP on HC Record on Bandcamp
For this special release, we have collaborated with the Valencian artist Manuel Monzonís, who has been in charge of creating the cover illustration. A stunning work that perfectly captures the spirit of this Interlinked EP.
SOMATIC RESPONSES Interlinked EP HCR006 Vinyl
A1. Satin Armour – 5:22
A2. Snake – 5:16
A3. Interlinked (Cell mix) – 04:43
B1. Aria – 6:51
B2. Heading South – 5:45
Bonus 1. Dolaucothiacid v2
Bonus 2. Automation Reign
Bonus 3. Persistent Illusions
Bonus 4. Cell (Loquelic Mix)
Releases November 30, 2020
All tracks written, mixed & produced by Somatic Responses. Mastered by Voidloss at Black Monolith Studio, London. Cover art by Manuel Monzonis. Label art & Designs by Dani Requeni. Press Note by Domingo Dark Vinyl. All rights reserved.
HC RECORDS València, 2020. www.hypnoticacolectiva.es