REGENT — Cratea

Berlin techno talent Regent channels his signature depth and drive into a new outing for MALoR Records. With each release since his inception in 2020, he demonstrates the versatility of his sound and his ability to convey profound narratives across a spectrum of techno sub styles. After contributing a standout track to the label's Purveyors Of The Groove Vol. 3 compilation in 2023, he now returns with a highly cerebral yet anthemic and dance floor-destined 5-tracker EP: Cratea. The A-side kicks off with the EP's standout cut, 'Refiction', a sinister, forward-marching piece laced with spooky, psychedelic vocals and dripping in LFOs and mind-boggling soundscapes. It's followed by the title track 'Cratea', shaped by steady bleeps and an evolving, echo-drenched synth that bounces erratically from start to finish, driven forward by thick claps and floaty rides. On the flip, 'Origins' delivers a steady, hypnotic tool built on organic bass sounds, gnarly percussion, and wet vocal chops, peaking with four-to-the-floor claps that are sure to lock in a busy dance floor. 'Null Model' follows with a signature Regent groove, fusing driving 909 drums with a clever interplay of short synth stabs and warped-out voices, resulting in a deeply trippy, almost paranoid atmosphere. Closing the record is 'Stealthless', a stripped-back yet uplifting techno tool, offering moments of synth euphoria and harmony while remaining deliberately restrained and minimal by design. A versatile release made for different moments in the night, designed to guide dance floors through profound, body-moving journeys. Best served on powerful sound-systems.