Are we staring modernity in the face with each new genre mash up? No. Do we need to load genres into a large Hadron Collider to get our kicks these days? No. It hasn’t taken the internet, or new studio trickery, to inspire a cross pollination of styles, it’s as old as music itself. Genre has never been for artists anyway, but certainly for consumers: many of us will forever be wedded to our tribal instincts.
Berlin-based Italian producer Shapednoise doesn’t see lines, and yet, there’s something deeply organic about these spasms of urgent deconstructed club and hip hop. It takes you by the hand and leads you into a twilight world of abstract rap and face melting bass: a potent hybrid recalling Death Grips, 700 Bliss, and the noisier elements of Clipping. And, maybe more than we should expect from someone in recovery from a profound hearing loss.
It leaves Shapednoise without a problem attracting collaborators as Armand Hammer, French DJ/producer Brodinski, David Lynch’s sidekick Dean Hurley, Bruiser Brigade’s ZelooperZ, and Moor Mother, all know a good thing.
If genre is dead in musical terms, Shapednoise was one of the artists putting the boot in.
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