Cassette-only debut ‘Troops of Tomorrow’ brings fresh sounds from Jakarta’s underground

Jakarta-based duo Mirza Adiprana and Ilham make their debut on their new label ‘Touch The Records’ with ‘Troops of Tomorrow’.

The cassette-only project is a split EP that weaves trip-hop, dance, ambient, and experimental production into one electric tape. It’s a strange listen, but incredibly polished and captivating.

The A-side, led by Mirza Adiprana, channels the edge of The Chemical Brothers but twists it through a leftfield trip-hop lens.

The standout, ‘Six Million Dollar Man’, is a dark, immersive ride, layering punchy percussion with quirky samples that create a bizarre yet engaging atmosphere.

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On the B-side, Ilham shifts the vibe toward deep house, opening with rich, tribal-inspired beats before plunging into a deep, atmospheric groove.

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The final track lands with a funk-heavy, boom-bap-inspired track, tying off the EP with a punchy, rhythmic flair, but not before diving into a sinister, horror-movie-cabin-in-the-woods type sample, akin to the infamously chilling ‘Everywhere at the End Of Time’ from The Caretaker.

Currently only available on cassette through their DMs before dropping on Bandcamp later, ‘Troops of Tomorrow’ is a worthy find for crate diggers and cassette enthusiasts alike.

Follow Touch The Records on Instagram here.

Henry Cooper is a Writer at Mixmag Asia. Follow him on Instagram.

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