The first listen to Obratno raises the question: Who is this kid? The short answer: InLensk is a young producer by the name of Gena Volgarev. Possibly named after the small Russian town of Lensk and having racked up a whopping nine followers (at the time of writing) on SoundCloud, this little prodigy is still shrouded in mystery.
Obratno is Volgarev's debut release, but it sounds like the work of a seasoned producer. The drum patterns alone on this five-track EP are enough to carry it. They pan, creak and tweak to minute degrees on a constantly shifting platform of percussion, never quite repeating themselves, coercing the listener into thinking about the rhythm rather than merely feeling it. These are then bedrocked by playful, impish tones, much like the ones found on early Aphex Twin records. "Na 7" is a perfect example of this jocular and hectic hybrid, and could even pass for an Aphex track were it not for Volgarev's penchant for strangely organic sounds. This is certainly IDM, with jungle flutters laced throughout, but it's a fresh, biotic take on those genres, like Volgarev has never even heard them before, so he's coming in completely untainted.
Volgarev is one of the most exciting artists to come out of Russia in recent years, and Obratno is certainly the most exciting release on the Other People imprint. It's easy to see InLensk appearing on Planet Mu or Rephlex in the coming years. Whatever his trajectory, InLensk is one to watch.
(Other People)Obratno is Volgarev's debut release, but it sounds like the work of a seasoned producer. The drum patterns alone on this five-track EP are enough to carry it. They pan, creak and tweak to minute degrees on a constantly shifting platform of percussion, never quite repeating themselves, coercing the listener into thinking about the rhythm rather than merely feeling it. These are then bedrocked by playful, impish tones, much like the ones found on early Aphex Twin records. "Na 7" is a perfect example of this jocular and hectic hybrid, and could even pass for an Aphex track were it not for Volgarev's penchant for strangely organic sounds. This is certainly IDM, with jungle flutters laced throughout, but it's a fresh, biotic take on those genres, like Volgarev has never even heard them before, so he's coming in completely untainted.
Volgarev is one of the most exciting artists to come out of Russia in recent years, and Obratno is certainly the most exciting release on the Other People imprint. It's easy to see InLensk appearing on Planet Mu or Rephlex in the coming years. Whatever his trajectory, InLensk is one to watch.