Followers of experimental bass label Renraku may have noticed multiple releases from an artist called BASTARD popping up on their Beatport profile. With a wild, Dadaist breakcore-reminiscent style, fans may think BASTARD is an entirely new artist, but it is infact a duo, consisting of the already well-established bass artist ALEPH and Kaya, Renraku’s label manager. With their new EP BASTARD.NFO, this duo is out to change the landscape of experimental bass.
It’s easy to see how ALEPH and Kaya came to work together. In addition to having several multi-genre releases on Noisia’s Vision Recordings and recemtly remixing for dubstep power player What So Not, ALEPH has been releasing on Renraku since 2017, wiht his most recent Refractor EP having dropeed in March. There’s obviousl a strong A&R relationship there, and it’s clear that the marriage has now produced a very interesting project in BASTARD.
With both ALEPH and Renraku being on the borders of experimental and not adhering to genre, the new BASTARD project goes even more into experimental territory, with BASTARD.NFO containing not only a range of genres but a range of styles within that genre. Breakcore synths married with deep bass dubstep in ‘Pressure!’, future bass beats with Hudson Mohawke-style hip hop flare in ‘Up Considerably’ and experiments with sampling and sound design in ‘OneOne222 (feat DMVU)’ means the duo are really going for it and putting out exactly what they want.
Whilst experimental music almost always feeds and inspires electronic artists, it’s obvious that BASTARD have also taken a wide range of influence as inspiration for their work on BASTARD.NFO.
…BASTARD.NFO is a nod to our early days, grabbing torrents for anything and everything that could help us make music. Sonically the project is our attempt to push the envelope and blur the lines between ‘bass music’ and ‘club music. -Kaya
With innovation and inspiration meeting in such a way, Kmag asked Kaya and ALEPH to provide a few tracks that helped them on their way to BASTARD. What they’ve come up with is a compendium of bass and a jumping off point for anyone wanting to grow their bass playlists.
Ivy Lab x Manni Dee – Dead Signal
Aleph: Irresponsible and untrue to not bring up Ivy Lab, probably my favorite beatmaker duo ever. This Manni Dee collab is so cavernous and crazy. Love it.
Hyroglifics & Deft – Two For Two
Kaya: I feel like half of our BASTARD DJ sets would be tracks by Deft if we could get away with it. The groove & sound design of this one are so on point. Huge, huge fan.
Tom Calvert – Wasp
Aleph: Another Huge Influece is Tom Calvert. The whole Album, Zanbor could have been here to be honest; this record stands out as something special.
LOCKED CLUB – What
Kaya: One of my fave LOCKED CLUB tracks, we’ve definitely tried to embody their raw ethos. RIP to Dima man these guys were so on point. The constant growl and interplay between the bass and the 4×4 kick pattern go so hard. Can’t get enough.
Eprom – EASE UP
Aleph: This was basically the most hype dubplate we had and I’m grateful it’s finally out cause it’s a true soundsystem destroyer unlike anything else really.
Senny – Hennessy
Kaya: We’ve played this one out a lot, the way it works into our sets is always great, usually a really high energy moment. I think when writing BASTARD.NFO we definitely referenced this a few times as its simple 808 cowbell melody is so works so well with the flow of the track.
TNGHT – Brick Figures
This track is a lesson in texture and sonics; abstract and powerful. Very little sounds like this song without being lost in pretentious sound-design-flex music.
Gantz – Off Center Pupil
Kaya: Gantz is one of those producers that has the ability to construct these elaborate grooves out of the most wild sounds, and this track captures that perfectly.. Like raking the depths of the ocean and building a ship out of the junk. He’s untouchable, truly one of the best to do it.
Tessela – Nancy’s Pantry
Aleph: Something about the way some really cooked low-end and some cut up breaks just really does it for me, especially when it’s chopped up and strange like in this song. Easy Choice.
Atsushi Izumi – Nos
Kaya: Criminally underrated, this track is so evil. The way the elements continuously build over time is the best. I’d kill to hear this in a packed warehouse in the dead of winter. Perfect.
BASTARD.NFO is out now and can be streamed on Spotify or purchased on Beatport and Bandcamp.