Ital Tek

Though steeped in the groundwork of drum & bass, Ital Tek's latest, Control, moves beyond the genre with a solid soundscape wrapped in experimentation. This mini-album (eight tracks that clock in at just over 25 minutes) capitalizes on the repetitive stutter of vocals ("Violet"), the frenetic assault of synths across tracks and experimentation in the percussive realm that adds a richness and depth to the album, as well as a distinct sci-fi feeling. Vocals resembling reversed warped sighs push through on "Fireflies," combined with muted, frenzied percussion that fades in and out of clarity but always retains its fervour. The continuous percussive rolls on "Jupiter Ascent" are spattered with climbing, dreamy synth and roll nicely into closer "Doom/Dream," an ambient breather used to round off the album.