After leveraging his imprint to provide a platform for deserving talent in techno, VAST Recordings boss Spencer Hardwick has offered up the label’s third release. The Introspection EP takes clear inspiration from the Blade Runner films and their challenging narrative around self-referentiality. It comprises of three original singles as well as two remixes by Jason Patrick and Mike Derer.
Label head Spencer Hardwick, who has previously released on JAK’s SubSensory, personifies the VAST ethos with his own captivating version of its artistic philosophy. Spencer’s electronic music style, which is experimental but true to tradition, creates a cerebral tangent between layers of beautiful, progressive ambiance and artistic, atonal noise. Groove is still crucial throughout, and the desire to support and advance the community that has developed around techno is the primary motivator behind this astute balance between what techno is and what it can be.
USA-based Mike Derer kicks off the remixes with over 20 years of industry knowhow from running an artist agency, hosting events and of course beat-making. His music can be found on his own Northern Parallels imprint, Myles Sergé’s (MS), and also remixing for the likes of A.Paul’s Naked Lunch.
Second on remix duty is Jason Patrick from Chicago, who appears following acclaimed releases on iconic labels such as DJ Hyperactive’s 4 Track, Submerge’s Impact Mechanics, Jeremy P Caulfield’s Dumb Unit, and From 0-1.
“Are These My Memories” ushers in Hardwick’s body of work with a distinct sense of urgency. Wandering synth lines fall and intertwine repeatedly in a hypnotic haze, referencing the cognitive dissonance that might be caused by not trusting one’s own memories. Unintelligible spoken-word samples only add to the psychological intrigue.
The second track of the EP, “Is This Real” depicts an increasingly tenuous and fleeting grasp of reality. Tense arpeggios and melancholic atmospheres evoke a sense of intense introspection and uncertainty.
No concrete resolution lies in store on Hardwick’s final track, “Why Can’t I Tell Anymore.” Its warbling melody poses more questions than answers, raising the stakes as each sonic layer enters the arrangement. The effort thus opens a door for Hardwick to explore similar themes in upcoming works.
Adding dimension to the EP are accomplished American artists Jason Patrick and Mike Derer. Jason’s remix reimagines “Are These My Memories” with dubby, reverb-soaked chords, keeping the tempo high while instilling more dynamic intensity throughout his rendition. Mike’s remix of the same track casts it in a psychedelic light, complete with resonant percussion and glimmering stereo artefacts.
What are our memories? What is reality? What is being alive? How can we know for sure? In the Introspection EP, Spencer Hardwick proves himself capable of transmuting such riveting quandaries into music. In doing so, he carries forth techno’s rich legacy of taking cues from science fiction, hinting at what’s to come from his rapidly growing discography.
Grab it here!
