Preview: Worn “Feminist” (exclusive)

12 Aug 2013 — Henning Lahmann

Sometime last fall, elusive UK/Berlin-based producers Shifted and Ventress launched Mira, a sublabel of their Avian imprint conceived as an outlet to specialise in 10" vinyls which explore the rearmost corners of contemporary techno, those ill-lit realms that seamlessly fade into drone, noise, and crudest industrial-leaning rhythms. The label's fourth release will be the initial effort by Worn, Ventress' new moniker that is taken as an opportunity to delve deeper into oppressive sonic nightmares not suitable for your average dancefloor (not even in Berlin). Indeed, the four tracks on Feminist mostly abandon a clearly identifiable beat in favour of unnerving, disconcerting patterns that might sound vaguely familiar to anyone who's checked out material by Sandwell District or Glasgow's Broken20 label. The EP's clear standout is the title track, which is a collaboration with NFOP favourite Nicholas Wood aka The KVB, whose coldwave-indebted guitar work stunningly complements Worn's gritty, unsettling synth musings. As Worn, Ventress had already contributed to the excellent recent Immaterial Visions Remixes 12" by Wood's principal project on Minimal Wave sublabel Cititrax. Moreover, Juno reports that Wood will have a release on Mira as Burma Camp probably before the year ends. More on that hopefully soon.

Feminist is out August 26, highly recommended. Artwork done by Juan Mendez aka Silent Servant. Stream excerpts of all four tracks below.