rEmPiT g0dDe$$ impresses with lofty, industrial remix for Matthew Herbert's Wishmountain

Matthew Herbert’s Wishmountain makes a doubled-up comeback with a playful live set at Dekmantel last weekend, and a selective collection of the project's seminal works alongside remixes of his 2022 album ‘Stonework: 1000 metres down’, via Accidental Jnr.

Alongside remixes by German DJs and producers Berk Offset and Ancient Methods, the selective release features an otherworldly remix by Malaysian-Singaporean experimental artist rEmPiT g0dDe$$.

Victoria Yam, known for her projects Viktoria and rEmPiT g0dDe$$, has a knack for deconstructing sounds, and delivering new emotional constructs — her works have garnered credibility in the industrial club scene and have won her film scoring duties.

For ‘Stonework: 1000 metres down remixes’, Yam has chosen to take ‘Headrush’ through a brazen and heavy duty, boxed out rhythm that results in a lofty, factory groove.

Have a listen to 'Headrush' (rEmPiT g0dDe$$ Remix) below.

The premise of Herbert’s Wishmountain project, like many of his others, revolves around a purposeful approach to a “practical hardware restriction in the early 90s” through the use of distinct material textures and sounds. The perceptible approach has been continually evident through his previous works including 1999 album ‘Wishmountainisdead’ into ‘Tesco’ where the British supermarket giant’s 10 most popular products became his sampling source; the machinated and hypnotic sounds were still present in his 2022 release, ‘Stonework’.

Speaking to Mixmag Asia, Herbert says, “Messing about as Wishmountain, in the studio, or on stage was always the most fun I had in dance music, trying to make people dance to just eight sounds taken from odd things like chocolate bars and toasters. I remember playing live at the Orbit in Leeds in the late 90s and people being mightily confused. I am excited many years later to still be playing with noises in this way, although this time it's sounds recorded 1000m down an abandoned mine for the stonework album. I am thrilled to have some remixes done by people whose work I rate in techno — people curious to find and work with new textures and sound worlds.”

Whilst all three remixes Herbert has selected for ‘Stonework’ make stellar dance floor renditions, rEmPiT g0dDe$$’ contribution lands an extra grading for the rhythmic mayhem and futuristic tribalism that Yam has injected.

Falling onto Herbert’s radar has come through definitive work by Yam — she has been involved in producing film scores for the State of Motion exhibition by the Asian Film Archive in Singapore, and forMONSOON '21 by Foreground Pictures in Malaysia. She also takes on the role of music editor for Magazine For Young Girls, an independent platform shining light on female talents from Asia and the global diaspora.

'Headrush' (rEmPiT g0dDe$$ Remix)' is out now on 'Stonework: 1000 metres down remixes' via Accidental Jnr. Grab your vinyl or digital copy here.

Arun Ramanathan is Mixmag Asia’s Director. Follow him on Instagram.