Driven by intricate, kicking rhythms and thrown off balance by synth lines that sound like malfunctioning robots in an eighties sci-fi film, VHS Nite is a blast of bass-heavy dynamite that’s hard to pigeonhole. Funky, grime, dancehall and house- it’s all there, but not like you ever heard it before.

This EP is a playful monster, lurching into the future while chewing on debris from the past. The EP title-named opener combines a bouncing rhythm with sci-fi synths and a weird flourish that sounds like it might be a dolphin. Crisp, bright and heavy, it’s a singular sound that’s at once heavy and dizzyingly dreamlike.

Rolling drums and reverby, spacey ambience build the foundations for ‘Utukku,’ while ‘Amazon River Run’ sees Afro-percussion flowing over an ‘I’m on the last level’ synth and staccato vocal. The rest of the EP is made up of top notch mixes; particularly noteworthy is Starkey’s mighty treatment of the title track, sub bass stabbing angrily at unsuspecting smooth power-chords.

BD1982 is an American based in Japan. This is his first release for Disktopia, following some impressive drops for the Seclusiasis label, run by Starkey and Dev79, including his promising Let’s Talk Math album. Japan-based Disktopia has put out some interesting material by the likes of A Taut Line and Hong Kong in the 60s.

Enriched by mixes from Ikonika and Optimum, Starkey and Slackk, VHS Nites looks set to give this up-and-comer the attention he deserves. BD1982, aka Brian Durr, has created a truly eclectic sound, influenced by his time living in Philadelphia, a fixation with UK bass music, and his love of the cinematic and computer game sounds of yesteryear. 

Genre-defying, blisteringly energetic and as fun as a spaceship hijacked by a baby alien, VHS Nites confirms BD 1982 as a serious and exciting new artist.

 

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