Published by Davide Pappalardo on July 19, 2018
American musician Hayden Payne aka Phase Fatale (in the past a member of Void Vision, Dream Affair, Anasazi) has become very quickly a mandatory name in the world of techno-industrial. He is part of a wave made of producers like Blush Response, Broken English Club, Vatican Shadow and so on, focusing on the synthesis of dark and obsessive dark techno soundscapes and EBM/industrial elements. The result is a deeply engaging and scene-crossing sound which has conquered both the underground and renowned clubs like Berghain and Tresor.
After many EP releases for labels like Hospital Productions, aufnahme+wiedergabe, Unterton, Jealous God, and a full length called Reedemer (Hospital Productions, 2017) he has even created his own imprint BITE in order to show to the world his idea of industrial and post-punk tinged techno, releasing Teste‘s EP The Box Man and his own collaboration with Silent Servant Confess. Now, after the release in 2017 of the 12” Anubis for the parent label Unterton, he finally publishes a work called Reversed fall for Berghain’s in-house record label Ostgut Ton.
Here we will find a 4-track EP inspired in part by J.G. Ballard‘s novel Crash, where his fondness for dystopian and cinematic soundscapes is well balanced by old-school techno vibes made of hypnotizing kick-drums, infectious bass-sounds and sharp snares. A mature sound in which all the main elements of his style are rigorously kept, while a perfect sound design and production give us a professional product that wont sound out of place during any kind of techno DJ set.
The title track showcases abrasive bass mantras and steady beats underlined by grim lines and captivating snare-sounds. An old-school bass-line moves among the crawling crescendo, while more structured rhythms are added to the pulsating number. A communion of unmistakeable techno vibes and soundtrack-like movements, fully displaying the instantly recognizable style of the artist. Incision plays with even broodier atmospheres and more experimental designs, employing almost dark ambient sections and pulsations slowly gaining space in the track. Sharp industrial loops and martial drum-sounds give us an imposing march moving amidst the misty soundscape once again recalling a dark sci-fi movie.
Blackbox returns to techno territories using frantic EBM bass-lines and looping effects, enriched by 4/4 rhythms and steady snares. Punishing drum machines conjure strong sounds while the tension grows thanks to grim synth-lines and sudden glimpses of distortion. Swirling obsessions and menacing atmospheres complete this perfectly built cyber-voyage. The last episode Empty whip is based on fierce arpeggiations and almost tribal rhythms, reaching a compulsive mantra evoking a digital landscape soon enriched by sparse effects and riffing incursions. Distorted kicks and futuristic crescendos dominate the skilfully crafted song, a perfect example of techno-industrial firmly rooted in the original vision of the genre.
Phase Fatale proves he is a fully developed producer and sound-designer, presenting with Reversed Fall a modern techno EP in which his tools of the trade are his skills in synthesis and production. He conceives brooding but captivating tracks displaying a dark sci-fi world made of strong rhythms and industrial soundscapes, while at the same time giving us perfect material for sweaty techno nights. A welcome addition in an already prestigious catalogue.
Label: Ostgut Ton
Rating: 8,5