Scuba - Claustrophobia

Scuba
Claustrophobia
2015
Scuba - Claustrophobia

The earlier iterations of Scuba were more big house room filling IDM (Intelligent Dance Music, as hipster a definition as you can find). However this new record Claustrophobia is different. It does not have that presence to max out a room full of people looking at lights and dancing, instead it is more nuanced than that. The bass is almost an after thought rather than the mainstay of each track. The tones on the record are crystal clear and create this wonderful sound that dances on your ears. Because the bass is not used in a constant four on the floor Scuba is able to experiment and move tracks that otherwise would be straight up dance tracks, like "PCP", into more interesting and varied areas. The interesting thing about Scuba's sound on Claustrophobia is how random it all seems. The music comes together as almost a hodgepodge of different clanking or scratching then somehow comes together over half whispered voices to create something really beautiful. This record also sounds really vast, on "All I Think About Is Death" you are almost transported out of the nightclub and on to some scenic vista, and though it is dark you can't help but be taken aback by it's loveliness.

Scuba is clearly in the conversation with electronic pioneers like Caribou and Above & Beyond, but what He is doing with this album is really on another level. The darkness he is able to create while still having tones that make you smile is exemplified on "Needle Phobia", where the deep bass creates on vibe and the piano stacked on top creates another. "Black on Black" is another thinking man's dance track and just when you think Scuba is going to drop the bass and really put something on you, nothing. He uses the space expertly to take you just to the edge but then instead of throwing you over, grabs you and walks you back to the car, really crazy but enjoyable stuff. This is a record that will sneak under radars but is quietly one of the better techno albums of the year. Don't let it slip by you, take a listen.

8.5 out of 10