This fall, sonic crevasses are filled with the unnerving sounds of spook and spoil. The once unsettling tones provide a feeling of nostalgia and a platform for music to tap into those sentiments. Arguably, one of the canonical artists when it comes to the witchy and abstract world of techno and house music is Canada’s Jay Tripwire. He is a household name in techno circles and has been producing music for over 25 years on powerhouse labels like Nordic Trax, Nervous, Viva and most recently through his own imprint Witching Hour. Harmonious Discord is happy to welcome Jay to the label with a very special release offered both digitally and via limited vinyl pressing (200 copies).
Ika is a collection of tunes with a common abstraction. Mature enough for a headphone listen but still relevant on the dance floor. The project starts out with “Wokd,” a dizzy concoction of slippery sound design and abrasive percussion. Next up is “Wormholes”, a penetrating acid house sonnet with whispered conversations and bin-rattling bass. Austin’s Jeff Scroggin reworks “Wormholes” into a tightly-shuffled — yet melodically-driven — selection for lighter moments in your warehouse adventure. Jeff’s take combines the haunting undertones of the original with powerful house essentials. The main event are two tremendous techno versions of “Ika” (the Japanese word for squid but sometimes used for certain cuttlefish). The RAW OG Vinyl Mix is a headstrong, percussive techno masterpiece reminiscent of earlier minimal techno selections. Everything is carefully placed, and tones bounce off each other while creating a syncopated space that moves the selection along. The additional “Ika” revisit plays off the same sampled themes of the original but with a formulated bass foundation giving it a pronounced strut missing from the original. These selections will take one on a journey into the uncharted mind of artist Jay Tripwire.
Haris Custovic (Laus Music) – “Top gear from a top man such as Jay!”
Christian Martin (Dirty Bird) – “Sick EP! So groovy.”
Colin Dale (Abstrakt Dance Records) - “Solid EP with all cuts working well. Will rotate and support.”
Ivaylo (Bogota Records) – “Always deep power from Jay. Love this.”
Magnus Asberg (On The House Records) – “Oh yes! Tasty. We like this one.”
Andrew Duke (Andrew Duke In The Mix – “Great to have this superb new material from Jay.”
Harry Avers (NOICE! Radio Show) – “If Jay is not an Electronic Music God, he is at least a minor deity. Really nice work here.”
Taigo Onez (Bane Le’ Dex Radio) – “This is so righteous! Full support.”
Jon Fugler (XLNT Radio Show) – “Some lovely late night vibes here. Scroggin’s mix coming out on top by a whisker, and all are deeply enjoyable.”
Simon Kirk (Stag Beetle Radio Show) “Jay always nails it, and here is more proof of his talent. Absolutely killer!”
Available Now From: Beatport, Traxsource, Bandcamp, And Spotify.