The consistently unorthodox Kris Wadsworth returns to Hypercolour with 10 track LP ‘Popularity’ almost upon us and we’ve had a sneak peek.
Those familiar with his music have grown to love his unique production style; a satisfyingly acquired taste which refuses to cater to the more superficial aficionados. The creative licence he afforded himself via his critically acclaimed vinyl label, URANUS, has perhaps allowed the DJ/producer/all-round tech machine to undergo a process of “self-imposed, artistic purification” and the end product is an undeniable, flawless sound.
Kris is an artist that cuts his own path in a world so often dictated by the industry’s trends and demands. Assembled in Detroit among the city’s mechanised car factories and heavily influenced by the second major wave of Motor City techno – pioneered by the likes of Plastikman (AKA Richie Hawtin) and John Acquaviva – his sound is like an analogy of Detroit music itself. There is a coating of techno, acidic 303s and industrial soundscapes, covering the rawness of rock, the energy of hip hop and all layered over a deep foundation of soul.
You can imagine his tracks forged in the great, decaying factories of Motown, using the machinery that once made the nation’s cars, twisted and bent and rusting, abandoned. Battery acid pooled on the floor, broken glass, scraps of metal and the thump and groan of electric generators in the bleak landscape of a post-industrial Detroit. This is the Kris Wadsworth sound. Popularity is not all dark and acidic techno however. From that factory floor also comes a brighter message. Playful, lively, almost jovial elements fused with darker and more eccentric components, modular synthesis and a 4×4 motor driving through an uncompromising terrain. The German techno sound also rose from an industrial backdrop, as well the ashes of the Cold War. Now living in Germany, it’s clearly also had an influence on Kris’ output.
By all accounts Hypercolour is the perfect vehicle for Kris’ Popularity project and he certainly has a great affinity to the label even with previous releases on heavyweight labels like NRK Music, Get Physical and Morris/Audio. Not all labels would allow an artist to release an LP with such anomalous, exploratory intent but not every artist is Kris Wadsworth. The strength of the relationship between artist and label is evident from the opening track.
The album kicks off with the ‘Hypercolour Theme Song’ – a homage to the London-based imprint. “[It’s] maybe comical at times, but the first track is really special,” Kris claims. “It’s something I made very thoughtfully for Alex, Ste and Jamie [the lads at Hypercolour]. These guys have been through it with me, for better or worse, and still continue to support me more than any other label I have ever worked with,” he says of the alliance which has lasted five years. “It’s basically the only other label, aside from my own labels, which I would want to release stuff on anymore.”
The LP is roughly split into two halves according to Kris. “The first part is more fun,” he states, whereas, “the second part is stuff that I made sort of in contrast to the other stuff.” There is a definite evolution or developing narrative as the album moves through the tracks and shifts through the gears. The first phrase in the tracklist is more uptempo. Tracks like ‘Cock Soup’ and certainly ‘Neo Nasty’ definitely build the energy and enthusiasm of the album and the fifth track, ‘Public Relations’, serves as a breakwater – a redefining moment in the direction of Popularity, after which it starts to get a little more weighty.
The second half is unmistakably Kris Wadsworth – tormenting, unrelenting bass tones that seem to get more intricate with each play. Tracks like ‘Evolove’, ‘Mesmerist’ and title track ‘Popularity’ especially play their part in shading the darker atmosphere. What comes last is maybe a little unexpected and appears out of the haze like a sunrise behind the Detroit skyline, but ‘Common Knowledge’ is a rigorous shake-up. “Because I love Jungle, it’s a UK label and I think this is the purist form of terror I’ve made to date,” is the inspiration according to Kris. That terror fades gently towards the end, allowing us to regroup and reflect on all that has gone before it.
Personal fave is a tough one to pick due to the quality of the album. In the end it’s handed to Neo Nasty though Hypercolour Theme goes from light-hearted smiles to heads-down jackathon with one great masterstroke. The modular Neo Nasty has a down and dirty analogous groove about it, the type of track that would have bullied ‘Inspector Norse’ at school. Popularity 100% deserves a mention for its caustic, unquestionable Kris Wadsworth sound but the ten-tracker is consistently well constructed. The Popularity LP is out in February – educate yourself on the outer limits of electronic music.
For a taste of that Kris Wadsworth sound, here’s an old TNG favourite from the man himself.
