Originality and organic inspiration unite brilliantly for this release, a producer making fine use of both professionalism and playfulness at the creative helm. Mario Tha Great (MTG) connects with artistic flair and consistency combined, for the quickly recognisable tone and tempo of Ascend.
Released exclusively on Rumble, Ascend is a fiercely original yet also satisfyingly classic drum and bass track, blending a hazy static atmosphere with warped synths and light rhythms, for an other-worldly intensity that’s brilliantly immersive.
Despite the track’s plethora of original qualities, there’s a clear and unmistakable leading riff at the forefront of the whole progression – this single siren-like note repeating before resolving to rise up at the end of each phrase.
Elsewhere we get haunting layers of new synths and melodies, changes in vibe and scene reflecting a kind of sci-fi depth that’s mysterious yet still alluring and on-point in terms of the mood of Ascend. The intensity rises throughout, reaching an immense peak during the final third of this post-four-minute composition, and meanwhile the beat rolls on – these cascading layers of retro sound-play all uniting across a complex and rather confidently bold array of details.
It’s a fearless approach to mixing, but it pays off, and everything about the journey of Ascend provides something that keeps you engaged and enchanted until the music comes to an end.
