TKNS — Caecus Nervi
Written on 29 March 2023 by Andrijan Apostoloski
In the vast world of groove-ridden art such as techno, many of the offerings are simply reinternations of what a certain tune made work, often the same ideas get recycled in slightly different packages, and most importantly it’s often that the producer loses his vision and meaning with the sound he delivers. But if we were to get stuck at what the mainstream (even of the underground) offers, we’d be in depression and crying out loud that nothing is good anymore, that things aren’t as they used to be, just a general negative connotation of music.
That’s a mindset that I’m familiar with, hence very few techno artists, styles and grooves really succeed in moving me for real. Of course, there is ghetto-techno, there is hard techno, there is hypnotic techno… heck there is even dub techno, the derivative styles are countless and they all have tons of repetitive sludge that brings the whole genre into a stale and apathetic state, but… and this is the huge BUT… the reason why I love techno is because of releases like this, of labels, artists and people such as from the following.
We have covered the debut of Spanish hard-techno label Caedite Eos run by SlugoS, this time we have a dedicated release from a newcomer in the Spanish techno scene called TKNS. The weight and substance of these tunes is ever-lasting and evolve in such unique ways that bring a completely fresh light – like every techno release should be.
The introductory Nervio kicks things off with this polyrhythmic groove, and a dark atmospheric soundscape luring in the background. As it evolves, the play around elements and storytelling gets tenser and it reaches a climax that’s reminiscent of AK-47s blasting in the rhythmics, such a powerful feeling – no more needs to be said.
The Raw Method continues the saga. Hard techno is a genre I’ve always admired – this blend that SlugoS with his label pushes gets to the top ladder for myself, reminds me of the heavyweight distorted basslines in Techno Animal and JK Flesh, but not to say that it’s copying or perhaps limiting itself with a certain limitation. Like any other good music, the tunes of TKNS are precisely crafted – the elements playing with each other, the distortion riddim in the base driving you forward, and all the changes in the arrangement that give you that dopamine rush you’re in for when on the dance-floor. As with all of these tracks, it’s important to give it a full chance to evolve as the nasty insane bits usually happen after the first half, it’s what I wanna say: put your seatbelts on and believe the groove as if an F1 driver was driving max speed on twisted roads.
Dopamine is dopamine, we all love it when it comes down to techno. But what few achieve is to gift us, the listeners or dance-floor fanatics, an adrenaline rush. I’ve just had a tooth removed few days ago, and that anesthetics with slight pinch of adrenaline doesn’t come near this artillery of architecture that radiates a totalitarian groove – powerful, nasty and most important of all – proper massive.
Now, Basement Talk at the start gave me a slight vibe of something alike industrial IDM – I once again have to imagine Speedy J’s first LPs here as an influence! I didn’t particularly like that – but luckily mister TKNS knows a thing or two about crafting a universe, and boy does he deliver. In the breakbeat-like rhythm and this insanely powerful distorted bass, this tune sounds so dangerous after it punches through the first breakdown. How it evolves afterwards with all of the insane tension it creates and releases makes me happy! Makes me happy because I love it when an expectation of mine gets thrown to the rubbish bin, and I’m left with a tune I get to enjoy and get mind-fucked when I dive into it. So far the variety of TKNS’s delivery in production has been nothing but outstanding, the energy is constant and ever-growing, evolving in its own ways into oblivion – scapes that are fresh within ideas, creative arrangement and a very constant sound design that’s so beautifully set within the realms of industrial techno, or better said the perfect amount of sparks from that movement, alongside the crazy huge rhythms of hard techno, and the producers own signature stamp on top of everything. Bliss.
Blind Aggression… like, the track starts, right? Let me start again. Blind Aggression. You know when you’re at your start of discovering music – the first years, and you listen to some dons like for example The Prodigy – there’s a reason why they’re considered so cult nowadays, it’s because they’ve had the energy and groove with them throughout their discography. What made them different from countless of others releasing similar music in those days is the knowledge and superpower of being a director with a certain set of sounds, giving you the ability to craft soundscapes and with those tell some story… Ah yes, so you discover The Prodigy and find yourself to be stuck in this mindset that you’ll never discover anything as good – at least that’s how it was for me back when I was a teenager in my 14-15s when I was obsessed with their discography.
That pure energy of experiencing the Prodigy for the first time gave me a fucking slap in the face with this track, all of a sudden I find myself in a environment that melts these synths out of some metal-molding warehouse and enables to set this killer breakbeat in the middle – in one way as to say “fuck you” and put a middle finger to the whole establishment of the system, but also to say to you: hey kiddo, why you stressing so much – take a listen to this and things won’t be the same after. And it’s true. Again, I am not comparing because this is definitely not The Prodigy – and that’s the good thing about it. But as they brought the power in their tunes, so does TKNS with this and all prior ones. Crazy good idea, but even crazier delivery that makes me happy for discovering and having the chance to learn about these producers and tunes.
As the last track, Blind Aggression gets remixed by SlugoS, the signature sound TKNS somewhat being creatively dissected by a don in his own sphere produces a track that manages to continue, build and live from the expectations this whole release has put us until this point. And that’s no easy task! And that’s when everything makes sense – SlugoS after the first point of entry of taming the energy unleashes element by element of sonics to create a behemoth of slightly acidic sound that —GOD— I’m such an addict of. Usually acid is not my cup of tea, but this isn’t the usual acid, this isn’t the usual techno innit.
I didn’t really expect to write as much. Even my words couldn’t suffice what a great release stands for, and all the substance I try to explain to you through words. But make no mistake, SlugoS’s Caedite Eos label definitely plans to make a mark with unique and massive tunes, and their second release on the label continues to push boundaries that are frequently obediently swallowed by many. It’s a courageous and fresh delivery that enlightens the production of an evidently fresh producer from Madrid, on one of the hard techno masters of the underground place of home.
The diversity and distinction in the stories of all these tunes is throughout evident as they all have their own narrative, but when it all comes together with SlugoS’s remix at the end, this selection of tunes is definitely going to be a strong power on the mightiest dance-floors and will for sure ride you out and give you a proper head massage, or more abstractly that therapy you’ve been seeking for on a rave.
Whilst being in the hard techno sphere of things, as SlugoS himself has set a signature sound and manages to have a distinct style and power with his tune, the same is evident with TKNS – the tracks are self-aware of what they are, what they should accomplish, and god damn do they do it effortlessly with bringing new, fresh and dope ideas throughout. The sound design and technicalities aside, if a thing reminds me of Techno Animal and JK Flesh, it god damn better be good – and this is beyond good.
Highly recommended listen, a must buy for everyone spinning tunes on the floor. The release is going out this Friday on 31st March and is going to be available on digital formats through the Caedite Eos Bandcamp and other digital stores and outlets.
