Borderline

Chronique

Russian producer Ivan Karasev (aka Torn) is often linked to the "grey area" sound, where dark drum'n'bass bleeds into dubby, atmospheric techno. His first full-length for Samurai Music contains nearly 90 minutes of turbulent, chest-rattling bass and sharp, choppy breakbeats, with hardly any relief from the constant suspense. Opener "Dislocations" is a minimal, throbbing drone that waits until the very end to build up to a stammering beat. The remaining 11 tracks are heart-racing mini-epics, with precise breaks crashing against frightful atmospheric textures and bass convulsions. Kindred spirits Homemade Weapons, Presha, and Last Life all make welcome appearances during the album's middle section, though Torn is just as powerful on his own. Later tracks like "Dallol" and "Automan Clock" have bigger, slightly funkier drums, and the album throws a curveball with its finale, a collaboration with Sam KDC and Korse titled "Onibi." Sounding like a drum'n'bass 12" played at 33 RPM instead of 45, the track is a slow-motion haze of bludgeoning, pitched-down breaks and swarming bass. Borderline is a monolith, and it's proof that Torn is one of the era's most skillful drum'n'bass producers.
© Paul Simpson /TiVo