‘Oblivion’ continues Ma Haiping’s streak of hypnotic precision
Out via Molecular Recordings, the EP comprises four stripped-back, groove-locked cuts that move through deep techno territory
Ma Haiping steps back onto Marco Lenzi and Marco D'Arcangelo's Molecular Recordings with 'Oblivion', a four-tracker that plays out like a no-frills, tightly executed trip through his signature hypnotic techno palette.
Out now, the EP is a refined and focused offering that shows Ma in full control of his sound—lean, layered, and built for both deep introspection and raw dancefloor intensity.
The title track sets the tone with a dense, bellowing bassline that anchors a swirl of layered percussion and hypnotic textures. Its monotone melody steadily builds into a hypnotic vortex, only to subtly descend into a subdued yet no-less-intense finale—classic Ma precision at play.
'Solo Expedition' follows with a stripped-down, bass-driven atmosphere. The track is a masterclass in tension-building, where a brief mid-track pause lets eerie bleeps and swirling sonics paint a picture of isolation in deep space before the low-end kicks back in like a pulse through the void.
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On 'Assimilate', he dials up the metallic edge with razor-sharp highs and glitchy rhythmic patterns that form a high-pressure sonic field, charging forward with controlled chaos. It’s the EP’s most industrial moment, pulsing with relentless energy.
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Closing cut 'Lurker' is minimal but textured, led by a muted bassline and a persistent, sonar-like beep. The detail is in the shifts—flickers of robotic synths and subtle rhythmic tweaks that keep it moving without ever needing to explode.
A true narrative in motion, 'Oblivion' is Ma Haiping's way of proving once again that techno can be transportive, thoughtful, and thrilling all at once.
Listen to and purchase here.
Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.
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