Flexout Audio – V/A Core Vol.1 (FLXA071)

A label that has grown to become an intrinsic part of the underground and  experimental yet vital part of the scene starts off a new EP series named Core. Simply looking at the artists on the track listing is a hair raising moment. All are at exciting yet varying points in their career and don’t show any signs of stopping with this release. 
A duo that have big things to come from the rest of 2018 kick off the EP. Amoss. Get to know if you don’t (but you obviously do). They seem at home when looking through Flexout’s back catalogue, but when you listen to this it becomes clear why. A thunderingly groovy bassline that is so gnarly yet complimented so respectfully by the rest of the sounds in the track. Tidy and clinical drum work presented so very slickly, as every listen unveils something new in the track. Energy in the dance, or wherever else you are for that matter, provided here.
Conversely, Arkaik brings us to the second number of the release whilst off the back off releases on Dispatch and Vandal already this year. He shows off his balance between the weighty and the musical withMariana. The saxophone. Those vocals. That piano lick. A group of sounds that peacefully scream romantic, whilst arranged in a way that leaves you begging for more. He definitely shows off his more musical side here but without tiring your ears because underneath them lie subtle growls and a deep sub that will stop you from floating away into heaven. This track, for me, demonstrates the sponge of influences that Drum and Bass
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The ball keeps rolling with Ordure, a duo who are known more for their presence on the WAVE series rather than on the main Flexout imprint. They demonstrate their versatility with a deep stepper, a catchy and progressive rhythm across all frequencies. The sub and haunting atmospherics make me feel like I’m stuck on a roller coaster, constantly but smoothly descending and ascending. Serious hand drum workouts keep the momentum flowing in the tune with a catchy sound that I can only describes as a squeaky door. They’ve finely shown off here their ability to apply their tight production skills at the 85bpm and 170bpm marks.
Ending the EP on a an energetic level is Taelimb with a solo track, who’s been comparatively quiet on the releases front recently, but has not let his skills go stale. Old skool vibes here. A bouncing, enticing guitar riff, and only the fattest, beefi at of reeses. Controlled chaos, only until the second drop when the chaos is far from controlled. Angry amens, piercing stabs and even beefier reeses all go in to the melting pot and out comes the ability to knock the socks off in the sweatiest of raves around.
4 tracks that all reinforce Flexout’s highly applaudable output, but each in their own style and highlighting why this is one of the most essential labels in the more underground side of the genre.