Los Angeles-based low-end prodigy Abelation has been putting his distinct stamp on the bass scene with a wildly experimental forward-thinking approach. Making his return to Bassrush comes the four-track ‘Solitary’ EP, which bridges the gap between his established signature sound and new, exciting directions. The release follows the lead single “Dr Walker” that preceded the EP one month prior.
Stream here : https://bassrush.ffm.to/solitary
Setting the tone for the project, “Dr. Walker” is a multi-faceted monster that transcends emotions, genres, and sonic constructs. Propelled by gloomy, discordant melodies and lo-fi guitar strums in the intro, the track kicks off with a pensive state of reflection and melancholy. Snarling fills proceed to tear a hole through the space with a growl that’s something between a beastly chant and sinister laughter. Spine-tingling tones give way to heady low-end sequences, which are scored by the returning snarls, brain-bending sound design, and punchy percussion. The smooth and contemplative guitar licks reset the scene, making room for a soothing 8-bit melody that allows the track to shapeshift into a breezy house groove. Drifting between gentle and brutal, mind-blowing and calming, “Dr. Walker” defies all boundaries while delivering a truly one-of-a-kind auditory journey.
“Dark Thoughts” swirl as Abelation takes listeners deeper into his sonic labyrinth. Eerie textures simulate the uneasy feeling of an unrelenting wind that carries with it something sinister. Foreboding vocal samples give way to a filth-ridden drop scored by clanking metallic percussion, soul-stirring low-end, grimy textures, haunting distortion, and a general sense of doom. The track plays like a hallucinogen-fueled rave in a haunted house. Spirits dance as the walls melt, as the perception of reality bends along with each passing bar. The track concludes with a dreamlike essence creeping in to lighten the intensity faintly.
Switching the pace from the more abstract to straight-up banging, “Running This” is a dubstep destroyer equipped with the producer’s penchant for experimentation. A dizzying synth flutter rolls out the welcome mat to the party as frightful leads pull the piece further into the subterranean sewers. Pitched and distorted vocals announce the impending drop with an air of bravado backed by the beastly onslaught that immediately follows. The sound design hits like a wave of toxic waste radiating a slime-green glow while maintaining a sludgy texture. The break offers a pensive tone shift that resets the energy before devolving back into the brain-bending barrage of bass and otherworldly ear candy from the previous iteration but with a slick twist.
Drawing the EP to an end comes the closing cut “Destruction.” Staying true to its namesake, it’s a mind-twisting bottom-end banger that’s out for blood. Dripping with distortion, the cerebral-searing saw waves are woven into a mazelike progression. The vocals “I will destroy you” ring out like the call of the final video game before the battle begins. The first drop is a swampy, womp-led assault riddled with alien sounds, uncanny flourishes, and a sense of absolute darkness. Never one to stagnate, Abelation switches up the sound with an otherworldly trap climax that adds space for maximum impact while retaining the thematic edge that makes it so powerful.
Abelation explains the importance of the project, saying, “‘Solitary’ EP is an embodiment of my newer and older sounds mixed together. Since the creation of ‘Dr. Walker,’ I’ve always felt it belonged as a leading single in an EP. The next two singles I wrote later in time and the final tune earlier. I chose each song and their placement based on its vibe and energy.”
Holding it down for Los Angeles, Abelation is a production wizard wielding an affinity for analog sounds, piano, and wonky, experimental beats. The intersection of said components has turned him into one of the most forward-thinking artists in bass music. The rising talent has been championed by legends like Noisia, Zeds Dead, LSDREAM, Saka, TVBOO, HEYZ, Boombox Cartel, Buku, LYNY, and G-Space, while drawing press support from EDM.com, Heard It Here First, EDM Identity, Conscious Electronic, and The Music Essentials. He’s gearing up for a festival performance at Lost Lands and will be providing direct support for A Hundred Drums in Colorado.
Blurring the lines between captivating, brain-bending, and banging, Abelation proves why he is one of the experimental bass scene’s most exceptional talents across four distinct yet thematic tracks.
Abelation’s new EP ‘Solitary’ is available on all platforms via Bassrush Records.
More About Abelation
Abelation Bio Abelation is the mythical brainchild, Reese Downes. A young music prodigy in the making, at the age of 13 Reese took an early interest in music. At 15 he was introduced to electronic music by his 3 older brothers. Taking inspiration from artist like Tsuruda and Dr. Derg, Reese started to dig deep well beyond the conventional style of music. Armed with the knowledge of piano, basic sound theory, a Macbook pro, and a wild imagination, Reese began to create what feels like a journey into space. Presenting what some woul d call a “Dub style bass with trap influenced drums.”
More About Bassrush Records
Built around the legacy it has created since its earliest days in the underground back in 2002, Bassrush has established itself as a pillar within the bass music scene. Over the years, the crew has cultivated a movement that has taken on many forms, from its massive festival stages around the world to their more intimate nights on the dancefloor. In 2016, Bassrush Records materialized as a means to take their barrier-breaking mentality into the label world, pushing boundaries in dubstep, trap, drum & bass, and everything in between. With a catalog that banks on both heavyweights and up-and-coming talent alike, Bassrush Records has put its stamp on artists including Subtronics, ATLiens, Caspa, Borgore, Hekler, AFK, Svdden Death, Spag Heddy, Herobust, The Prototypes, JEANIE, Teddy Killerz, Saka, REAPER, and more.