Audio Asia: rush-inducing deep techno fire from minimalArchiv

Title: Transfigured
Artist: minimalArchiv
Label: Integrity Records
Release Date: May 1

Singapore's Integrity Records return with their first original outing of 2021, welcoming back UK artist minimalArchiv alongside celebrated Michigan-based producer John Beltran on remix duty.

The Integrity team had an impressive 2020, and they maintain the high quality threshold here with four immersive cuts of well constructed and deeply introspective electronica. Emerging producer Simon 'minimalArchiv' Chisholm has a relatively modest catalogue of work under his belt to date, but the lack of frequency of his releases is more than made up for by his diligent approach to production and the depth of feeling with which his work is endowed. He's twice before featured on Integrity's 'The Other Side' compilation series, and his music has caught the attention of the likes of UK deep techno don, Colin Dale. The 'Transfigured EP' marks the first in Integrity's new Yellow series, and the label are promising an eclectic selection of releases to follow later in the year. As we've come to expect from these guys, the music contained within traverses styles and genres while remaining firmly anchored in the electronic spectrum. 'Stones Throw' soars gracefully with its floating pads and mutant synth lines elevated over a drum pattern that is at once unobtrusive yet weighted enough to power a dance floor. The broken rhythms of 'Burning Heart' perfectly complement its emotive pads, mysterious vocal samples and evolving synths, while revered producer John Beltram's remix enhances the melodic evolution and harmonic layers in an expertly constructed revision that beautifully blurs the lines between ambient and techno.

We've opted to feature the title track, 'Transfigured'. Evolving pads merge with uplifting chord progressions, rising constantly over a determined beat as unending layers interplay in the perimeters of the groove. This is blissed-out, uplifting and utterly absorbing. Perfect material for sunrise sessions, or – in the hands of the right DJ – for a peak time explosion of hands-in-the-air emotion.

minimalArchiv 'Transfigured EP' is out via Integrity Records on May 1. You can listen and order it here