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Spanish producer ORBE has landed his first EP release on Token Records: the hypnotizing Transhuman. Tying together intelligent sound design and a taste for the warehouse aesthetic, ORBE’s debut on the Belgian label is set to stun.
The EP opens with “FM-2030,” a trance-inducing dark techno offering with a rich and boisterous soundscape driven by a nearly liquid lead. As the rhythm moves the track along, the splashy lead exhibits impeccable sound design against a glassy, atmospheric pad.
“Extropy” takes the same approach. Albeit more subdued than the EP opener, the track follows the same formula complete with booming bass and clever percussive elements and effects.
Transhuman‘s namesake offering is more acid tinged, building suspense through an ever-evolving lead synth that morphs across the six-minute arrangement. A powerful kick drum moves things along as “Transhuman” continues to mutate through off-kilter modulated synth work.
A warping synth lead also rounds the release out on “Posthuman Being,” a peak time roller whose sound design mirrors the aquatic inspiration that opens Transhuman. At times, the lead feels submerged, letting the calculated percussion float above – but it returns with a vengeance again and again throughout.
Transhuman sees ORBE (real name Fernando Sanz) wonderfully follow up his Abstract Reasoning release, Retrofuture, with a sonic delight that capitalizes on his futuristic and ever-improving style. His eponymous imprint, ORBE Records, has seen the producer cultivate a large following and faithful community, garnering the support of acts like Rødhåd and Marcel Dettmann.
ORBE’s Transhuman EP can be purchased in both digital and 12-inch vinyl record format via Orbe Bandcamp.
