Pitch black - SEØUEL delivers another dose of dark electronica with his Reykjavik EP

Having recently spend time in the Czech Republic’s capital, last year’s Prague EP saw SEØUEL sonically stalk the city’s narrow streets with claustrophobic, nocturnal beats and sharp injections of loops. But if Prague was a thematic representation of its enclosed alleyways and pseudo-religious sensibilities, his latest Reykjavik EP sees the producer roam out into more expansive territory. It seems that the character of the cities SEØUEL has visited during his time on the road have had a profound effect on his output.

Opener “Fear Party” is a fitting initial shot and truly lives up to its name being at once sinister and exhilarating. The track peppers you with shots of Detroit Techno debris that ricochet between the spacious analogue tweaks and squidgy synths. It’s like playing a game of apocalyptic laser-tag with Simian Mobile Disco.

The expansive “Íslenskir Fuglar” embodies the type of nervous energy that permeates Reykjavik with a jittering, distorted synth riff that soon gives way to a dark, down-tempo dirge before racing straight back up to meet you again, unnervingly head-on.

“Subtle” paces confidently with interweaving synth loops and a nicely polished acid house wobble that comes across like Battersea Power Station circa 1990, if it were transported straight into the middle of a frozen Nordic fjord.

“Skrýtið Andrúmsloft” is the early morning come-down to Reykjavik and it’s a welcome respite as the waves of resonating synths wash across the landscape of frenetic beats. But you get the impression that SEØUEL just can’t help himself as the distortion amps up into a storm of brawny off-kilter electro.

Reykjavik may only be the second EP SEØUEL has under his belt, but it’s going to be exciting to see where this guy is going to take us next.