Ben Klock and Fadi Mohem reveal new album Layer One featuring Flowdan and Coby Sey as guest vocalists. The project comes via the Berghain residents' new label, Layer Records. The ten-track full length project follows the hypnotic EP Klockworks 34 that set the stage in 2022. In a bold departure from the techno roots that have defined and nurtured their careers, Klock and Mohem are now pushing genre boundaries, exploring IDM, ambient and experimental electronic music while still retaining the brilliance that characterized their earlier work. Elevating this project are two very human and dynamic collaborations featuring the charismatic Coby Sey and the legendary grime MC Flowdan. Sey, a prominent figure in the British music scene known for his work with artists like Tirzah and Mica Levi, injects his music with a mesmerizing emotional depth. Opening the album with the powerful track "Ultimately," Sey offers spoken-word musings on creativity and life over experimental landscapes meticulously crafted by Klock and Mohem. Nostalgia permeates this opening track, and track 7 "Clean Slate" reinforces this sentiment with Sey's stream-of-consciousness wordplay. Flowdan, the gritty MC whose verses have become anthems of the UK grime movement, made headlines in 2023 with two songs that reached the top 20 of the UK singles chart. On track "Our Sector," Flowdan unleashes his raw energy and dynamic flow, adding a thrilling vocal dimension to the album's narrative. The fluid delivery of his lyrics and rhythmic timing are enhanced by the staccato beats and abstract synths. These collaborations are not mere features; they are pivotal moments that crystallize the album's vision -- an experimental re-imagining of electronic music's possibilities. Immediately offering an impressive entry to Klock and Mohem's changing sonic universe, "Escape Velocity" shows the collaboration at its strongest. Deftly juggling between ambient chords and more densely intricate rhythmic moments. These tightly layered textures and intense clashing moments are continued through most of the album. Penultimate track "The Machine" feels like the internal innards of a PC or synthesizer brought to life. Electricity flows through the track like an auditory exploration of the digital world's hidden mechanical and electrical processes. In contrast, final track "Melatonin" does exactly what the name suggests; its soothing melodic ambience cradles the listener as the album draws to a close.
