RAVAGE BLACK SERIES News

Nearly three years after the original, it’s finally time to announce a remix EP of the first Black Series release: “the hunter” by SAF. A selection of industrial-tinged remixes.

The EP starts with a remix by Spanish duo NX1, who brought functional structure to 2 Coke Bottles. Following is a take on Barney & Ted by the Swiss producer Isolated Lines, who gave the track an industrialised techno touch. On the B-side, Shawn O’Sullivan took on the unreleased track A Letter About a Sinking Depression. Heavy and groovy, yet as moody as the title suggests. Rommek turned Unaccepted Perseverance into an offbeat masterpiece. Israel Vines did a minimalistic and bouncy retake on The Three, which will be available as a digital bonus track.

For the second release on their Black Series, Ravage invited electronic music veterans Al Matthews and Patrick Walker to team up under their Forward Strategy Group moniker. The last release of these legends was quite a few years ago, but the wait was worth it. Their East Port Rangers EP kicks-off with Nine and One, a hypnotic, heavy-loaded stomper containing some uplifting, loopy vocals. Following is the most minimalistic track of the EP, Lisp Your Way, yet it still has a lot of substantial punch and lash to it.

The B-side starts off with heavy broken beats, combined with a classic rave sound, taking the listener back to the blistering sound of the nineties. Finally, the EP oozes down with the track In Abeyance; a haunting, down-tempo track with a melody to send shivers down your spine, which could be deemed a real creeper.

Focusing on the darker and un chartered spaces of techno music, the Ravage Black Series kicks off first with fellow Dutchman and upfront upstart S.A.F with The Hunter EP. Five lead heavy, uncompromising techno tracks that are unrelenting and rhythmic until the very end, it's a heavy affair from the start. For those into uncompromising, yet challenging tracks on the dancefloor, the first release in Ravage's Black Label series is a great glimpse of things yet to come.