Hydrafunk – Beasts From Below

Early May will see the long awaited return of Immigrant Records with an EP from the label founder Robin Porter & analogue guru Mike Carr under their Hydrafunk alias.  Their ‘Beasts From Below’ EP follows up from the resurgence release from Casey Hogan earlier in the year to make a huge statement of intent for things to come.

Since its inauguration in 1998 the imprint has released material from the likes of John Tejada, Alexi Delano, Franklin De Costa and Paul Mac to name only a few.  It seems just that Robin marks the rebirth of Immigrant Records under his collab with Mike Carr, since their last release under this guise in 2002 paved the way for the labels musical journey.

Kicking off the release is ‘Underworld’ which sees Hydrafunk fuse multilayered analogue synth sounds from chugging bass grooves and soft ethereal pad sweeps through to wandering arpeggios and bubbling atmospherics, all running alongside a raw and swinging percussive drive to open the EP in style.

‘Immortal Melody’ follows and tips things into dubbed out realms via echoing chord hits, rumbling sub bass and swelling pad drones before the introduction of an infectious stab-led sequence to carry the heady, entrancing groove throughout its six and a half minute duration.

Lastly ‘Hydra’s Dance’ rounds off the package, laying its focus on an 80’s electro-tinged bass line, acid blips and robust 909 percussion, while soft synth flourishes and sporadic vocal licks ebb and flow throughout the composition.

Tracklist

1. Underworld
2. Immortal Melody
3. Hydra’s Dance