IKONIKA – SMUCK / WE COULD BE IKONS (Planet μ)

 

Nov. 12, 2009 by Justin Shields

The debut 12” from Ikonika on the Planet Mu label sees her showing off her trademark woozy synths in a slightly more melancholy style. “Smuck” kicks things off with a gorgeous phased pad topped with some off-key bleeps and thumping kick drums. It reminds me of classic Warp records in the way it’s soothing yet jarring at the same time. The sound is also very warm which makes me think the source is likely some classic analog synths. When combined with an amazingly good mix, each sound punching through and the sub bass really doing its job, the results are stunning. It’s really all about contrasts with this tune, switching back and forth between moody contemplation and a bouncy, drunken groove.

“We Could Be Ikons” on the flip sees Ikonika remixing Euro Johannes’ skweee classic. It’s a romping, feel good tune that doesn’t sound quite like anything else I’ve ever heard. The melodies are once again slightly off-kilter but much more accessible than most of her other work. The way that it pulls off a giddy kind of euphoria whilst still having that dark brooding underlying vibe is really something special. Very high quality release.