Juan Ramos ATKM / Globalizacion Acido

Juan Ramos speaks twelve languages and loiters at the zoo. This is his second offering for the ESP Institute. Last year his debut dropped us at the edge of oblivion and this follow-up release picks up right where he left us—ATKM pumps right from the start with a collision of elastic percussion, tubular clinks and cranks under what sounds like fragments of our androgynous tour guide’s speech though a malfunctioning PA. Halfway through the chaos she makes a left turn toward Belgium where the drum programming fattens up and we acquire an optimistic shimmering of chords. On side B, Globalización Ácido conjures imagery of a moonlit expedition on the hunt for lord-knows-what. Many producers rely on jungle sounds, loosely appropriating some misguided sense of mysticism, but Juan rules his own kingdom where he creates an ecosystem through synthesis and digital manipulation. The narrative quality of his production knows no limits and his ability to twist machines into this chorus of cyber-creatures puts him at the top of the food chain, however, no animals were harmed in the making of these two songs!