Tracklist 01. The Number of Fourth No Escape 02. Orion 03. Dead Robot 04. Machine 05. The Number of Second 06. I Never Sleep 07. The Number Three 08. War 09. Fly 10. Alphabet 11. Synthesis of Worlds 12. Dead on TV 13. Root 14. The Number Three (Leed Ambient Version) 15. Spring (Noisetrance 44 Second Remix Version)
Release Date 20th June 2014
Press Release Polish veteran (and seasoned live act) Wieloryb delivers his third album for HANDS in a short time, and just what is the kind of metamorphosis to discover this time? „Root“ appears to be he most experimental and eclectic Wieloryb album so far – or should it be: The most mature and widely appealing? While this is of course still deadly efficient rhythm’n’noise, a lot of changes of pace make for a whole new structure, and subtle spaces between make the rhythmic impact appear even more crisp. In 2011, “Empty” showcased how versed Wieloryb is in creating rhythm, in 2012 “Namaste” proved mastery of the use of samples, in 2014 “Root” introduces Wieloryb’s proficiency of a wider range of sounds and emotions: Atmospheric backdrops and moody breaks increase the tension (“The Number of Fourth”), beats are slightly broken crossbreed style (“Orion”), and tracks like “Dead Robot” or “The Number of Second” could almost qualify as downbeat, in the Wieloryb universe at least. A number of tracks have a strong industrial hardcore flavour, like “Machine” or “Alphabet”, while “War” surprises with old school style noise textures. “Dead on TV” is a beast of edgy electronica and shredded beats, and at the end of a most diverse album we get two bonus mixes in yet more distinctly different styles: Eerie ambience (“The Number Three – Leed ambient version) and goa trance (“Spring –Noisetrance 44 second Remix Version”). You just have to love evolution – in general, and regarding Wieloryb in particular!
Press Release After the whale had kept below the waterline for almost two decades, it resurfaced in 2011 with its HANDS debut “Empty” to take the scene by storm – and now delivers the follow-up just a good year later. A lot has happened since, Wieloryb have played the stages of FORMS OF HANDS, Maschinenfest and other renowned festivals and received praise from critics and punters alike (which is rare enough). „Namaste“ is the phrase and gesture of salute used in India – which is where Wieloryb take us: Blending hard beats and Rhythm Noise with ethno samples, that has been done before (Wieloryb did it on “Empty” themselves), but mostly these efforts were one-off novelty tracks. Wieloryb have now picked up the idea and use it as a concept for the entire album. The 13 pieces on “Namaste” are all intensely rhythmic and sample-heavy, providing a diverting listening while the recurring Indian theme serves as an atmospheric hook. Throughout the album there is of course plenty of scraping, pounding Rhythm Noise, like the opener “Bangalore”, “Nagpur” or Punjab”. Other tracks stray somewhat off the path: “Haryana” marries pounding beats and ethnic chanting with a soothing ambient trance melody, “Walk In The Himalayas” is a polyrhythmic tribal fantasy and “Ramu-Ki” an Industrial Hardcore track with breaks that induce an instant rush of euphoria. Towards the end the album even accelerates its speed with the last three tracks “Chak Malook”, “Kalkuta” and “Zuo” - hypercharged stop-and-go kickdrum beasts! “Namaste” is not recommended for yoga lessons (unless the participants are very advanced I’d say), but a can’t-go-wrong for anyone who likes his beats hard. Nevertheless this goes way beyond the boundaries of simple Rhythm Noise, with complex and intelligent ideas that will definitely appeal to your third eye – Namaste!
Tracklist 01. Food 02. Time Out 03. I Want Feel 04. Now 05. Matt 06. Signal 07. (No Signal) 08. Gear 09. Muba 10. Shiva 11. Kdansk 12. Of Securities... 13. Gdansk 14. Posen 15. Does Not Blink
Press Release Wieloryb is Polish for whale, and the band does have a lot in common with that animal: It rarely surfaces, it has a long lifespan and when it appears, it makes a massive impact. Founded in the early 1990s, Wieloryb from the city of Gdansk (aka Danzig) were a pioneering act of dark electronic music in Poland, scoring some quick success with their Euro Electro sound at the time. Around then they started performing regularly, among others with Jimi Tenor and Pan Sonic. Soon that first incarnation of Wieloryb disappeared, and only a couple of low key releases saw the light of day during the nougthies, suggesting a much more experimental and aggressive direction. Now they’re back for good with a proper album for HANDS, and EMPTY is no quiet return for sure. Rhythm’n’Noise is the score, tough and relentless, with only the slightest distraction thrown in: A distorted vocal (in “Matt”), a metallic proto-IDM melody (in “Gear”), the occasional sample – but apart from that, pure, unadulterated rhythm terror, with a strong Industrial Hardcore flavour. This is where the experience of a seasoned performing act comes in – an album that relies so heavily on rhythm needs proper programming, and it’s all very skilfully done, with enough variation to keep it rocking all the way to the end. Among all the potential dancefloor smashers it’s quite hard to pick out standout tracks, but let me mention “Shiva” for the sheer brilliance of how they’re hammering a heavily processed Bollywood vocal onto a nail board of broken beats. All in all, this is a very modern take on the Rhythm’n’Noise genre, a workout that guarantees multiple adrenaline rushes.
