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A seasoned artist with an established catalogue, Kiantek returns to Grey Bar Hotel with his sophomore EP, “Alchemist”.
From an early age, the Berlin based artist found a passion for electronic music. Always aiming to cast himself at the bleeding edge of underground dance music, Kiantek has spent considerable time understanding modern production techniques, allowing for the creation of a paradigm shift in what is possible within the electronic music framework. From Downtempo and Indie Dance to Techno and Organic House, Kiantek’s product portfolio is an eclectic blend of genres with a self-confessed aim to “build tension and provide musicality to audiences” with a view to moving beyond the traditional dancefloor sound.
Finding his way onto Dalam Muzika in mid-2013 with his “Deep Connections” debut, Kiantek quickly saw his music allied to such blue-chip imprints as Friction Free, Doppelgaenger and Deepsessions Digital. May 2021 saw a Grey Bar Hotel debut with the 3-track “Divine Patterns” and it is now an honour to welcome back Kiantek to the label with another imaginative musical triptych.
Opening proceedings, “Burning Susia” bristles with bassline emotion as a growling analogue bassline gradually filters over the sonic horizon. In tandem, a glittering arpeggio marries itself
perfectly to the low-end brio as a deep kick and ticking hi-hat top line create a club-friendly framework. A glorious free-flowing lead synth enters the fray at the mid-point making perfect use of the beatless backdrop to sit front and centre before the track builds to a rousing crescendo in the third movement.
Continuing the deep rhythmic backdrop and rich harmonic narrative, the aptly titled “Berlin 6 AM” shimmers in the early morning gloaming. Building in intensity throughout, subtle urgency is provided via a rapid-fire shaker percussion and off-beat snare while a glorious arpeggio waxes and wanes with golden light gradually radiating over the cityscape below. Pausing for breath at the breakdown, Kianek’s production picks up the pace once more in the second half with a metronomic beat with percussive flair providing the perfect vehicle to lift the vibrant sonic melange
to its conclusion.
The title track continues to build upon the sonic characteristics of its partner tracks as “Alchemist” trips across a meticulously programmed rhythmic foundation, rising and falling with
consummate dancefloor ease. Kept in check by a chest-thumping kick, a beautifully hypnotic arpeggio transforms itself into magical patterns that dip and soar with sonic abandon aided by a
swathe of textured pads that add further to the overall ambience.
A stunning triptych of musical chemistry, Kiantek’s “Alchemist” has managed to produce pure aural gold.
Release date: July 8th, 2022.