Mastering Black Black One

Darkness enshrouded the city, replacing warm crepuscular air with a fresh nightly breeze that seemed to creep between the gaps in his clothes. Looking down, the tiny hairs on his arm had stood upright in lew of the falling temperature. It really was time to head home. His family were expecting him back. Though something eerie summoned him to stay, something in his gut said to walk, walk out in the night and face the silence that awaited him in those open fields on the outskirts of the city. The last light of sunset danced its way to darkness and he was alone, but this was what he wanted.

Ilker Soylu is a man of many guises. He returns under his Mastering Black alias, breaking the silence of a three-year hiatus with a broody and atmospheric four-track EP. This release rides electro BPMs for the title track ‘Obey’ and the ‘Obey’ rework on the B side, contrasted with A2 ‘Black Palms’ and B2 ‘Bit Of Your Love’ that chug with tension around a slower BPM.Varying on a darkened energy, crisp electro breaks articulate through bubbling arpeggios and ephemeral vocals. ‘Obey’ vocal drifts in and out of the title track, perhaps commanding, perhaps being commanded. This semi-neutral, ungendered voice speaks to the curiosity of the listener, with the potential for an unusual trip when heard in the stark strobe lighting of a rumbling nightclub. ‘Bit Of Your Love’ continues the vocal theme with a questioning tone, embroidered with rattling hi-hats and experimental sound design.The alternative version of ‘Obey’ on the B-side skips the vocal input for a dubbed-out and rhythmic interpretation of the title track. Metallic synths and a notable groove ride throughout the revisited version. A2 track ‘Black Palms’ opens with a calm downbeat house mood, with rich mid-range pads and drums that roll in a friendlier direction. Noisier synths break the calm with staccato flecks that lead us to an energising darkness once more. No stranger to eclectic sound production, Mastering Black provides a diverse and club-ready EP to mark his return to production.

As label and record shop founder of Zwart Goud, Ilker leans on a rich background in dance music and uses his years in the industry to produce this highly kinetic and mood-enriched release. Expect this to wobble and warp its way through sound systems for years to come.