BAHER — Fragments EP

Baher – Fragments EP opens the Rakete roster with a 12-inch that navigates the borderlands of techno and house. Catalogued as RKT04, the Minneapolis-based producer brings a Minneapolis-to-Cairo perspective to the vinyl, stitching together hardware-driven grooves that feel both distant and immediate. The EP’s five tracks are built on classic drum machines and vintage synths, delivering a body of work that balances emotional imprint with raw dancefloor energy. Although no other releases are listed for Rakete, the label’s ethos of underground, hardware-centric output is evident in this debut. The EP continues the imprint of the founder’s own aesthetic, echoing the label’s commitment to club-focused sounds that draw from old-school rhythms and the memory of warehouse raves. Side A begins with “Afrika”, a track that summons the expansive feel of desert winds while anchoring the set with a steady pulse that invites movement. It segues into “Basement Rose”, a deeper cut that shifts the mood toward a darker, more intimate atmosphere, providing a subtle contrast that keeps the groove evolving. Side B opens with “Time Machine”, a piece that feels like a forward-looking journey, its rhythm propelling the listener into a futuristic space while retaining a warm, analog texture. “Sun Knights” follows, offering a brighter tonal shift that brightens the set’s momentum and works well as a peak-time lift. The record closes with “Journey To Juno”, a final excursion that ties together the EP’s themes of travel and memory, delivering a lingering sense of resolution that can serve as a powerful closing moment in a DJ’s set. Within Baher’s output, this EP marks the first complete body of work released on Rakete, showcasing the producer’s skill at merging influences from Cairo’s desert soundscapes and Minneapolis’s warehouse culture. The record’s blend of techno’s drive and house’s swing places it squarely in contemporary underground dance music, where hardware-centric production remains a valued niche. For DJs, the record offers a versatile toolkit: “Afrika” and “Time Machine” provide solid foundations for longer, groove-focused mixes, while “Basement Rose”, “Sun Knights” and “Journey To Juno” give moments of tension, lift, and closure. The sequencing supports a narrative arc, making the EP suitable for both peak-hour peaks and more introspective, after-hours moments. The release arrives as a 12-inch vinyl, preserving the tactile experience that complements its hardware-driven aesthetic. The format reinforces the EP’s intention as a dancefloor-oriented work, inviting collectors to engage with the grooves in a hands-on manner. Baher – Fragments EP, Rakete, RKT04, 12-inch vinyl, five tracks. Tracklist: A1. Baher – Afrika A2. Baher – Basement Rose B1. Baher – Time Machine B2. Baher – Sun Knights B3. Baher – Journey To Juno