Upercent 'Sentit Opost' EP review | A brush of showcase genius
Where music flexes upon art, comes Upercent’s latest creation.
And where dancefloors find their sacred grounds stomped upon once more, comes ‘Sentit Opost’ - a portrait of a showcase concept; an album which takes form from the start-up excitement of a set, straight to peak-time delight and beyond, falling graciously to its final frontier.
Upercent and the album’s label are no strangers to the idea of building stories upon each other within other forms, no. Interpret, brainchild of both Jose himself and fellow Spaniard Santiago Gracia, have already pre-meditated the label’s identity through their joint first release on the imprint, ‘Carrer Bonaire’, and of most recent, its showcase at Muting The Noise headquarters, where all roads will soon follow to Mexico and Turkey. The release of ‘Sentit Opost’ at such a prime position in the showcase dates further cements the journey and concept produced throughout the album’s five tracks - piecing together five key, magical points of a set; connecting our souls to the motion of a dancefloor; relighting our senses through the power of music.
Come, let Upercent take you on a journey, where ‘opposite senses’ lead you through a diverse and intriguing 30-minute rabbit hole. Where will you end up?
AGRAIR - THE WARM UP
The skeletal foundations of ‘Agrair’ lay themselves bare. Bumping a broken beat, fractured to prevent it sounding too intrusive for the introduction, a fuzzy, almost scorched chord jumps out and pleads in pain, tip-tapping like a splash of rain falling on the bones. Suspense prematurely built, a daze of soft fluffy melodies gloss over to form a melodic take. Beauty, which indeed lies in its sweet simplicity; the formula is simple, getting us gently into the mood. As our tiny drum breakdown prepares us for the next gear, a blush of crimson jazz withers and smokes, smouldering to the lost souls of yesteryear. Characterised by a more classical stance, it’s important to note here the contrast against the guitars used in ‘Discontrol’ (the opening track from Intercept’s first album); ‘Agrair’ gravitates towards a more natural approach to elements used in contrast to the aforementioned. Oscillating, pinching onwards, the beat throws itself to build, bringing a gentle caressing voice to the lullaby. Drawn-out chords crescendo as a piano tinkers along: soft as spring breeze. Taps of a bare-skinned drum roll like a stone; tumbling like dice, and we find our adrenalin pumped up to take us onwards.
LES GRANOTES - THE BUILD UP
Jumping straight out like frogs - or as so ‘Les Granotes’ means: this second offering jumps straight to our attention without a moment’s thought - a track readily full of suspense and surprise, continually prepping and pushing itself for essential build-up momentum, which is ready to unfold at any moment. It’s noticeably formed of the bassline - gritty enough to tarnish the deepest of black souls, yet it stills plays on a slightly softer shade of industrial, so we’re not too afraid to step into the unknown and walk ourselves further into the darkness. Stone boulders splinter down for strength, casually allowing ground-breaking trembles to lapse up within the formation. Touches of metal bolts and shattering swirls cloud above to cue up and break the first hurdle. And yet, within all the roughness, a juxtaposition peeps forwards - that of sweeter digs which unearth themselves from the ground, elevating upwards into the skyline, dazzling brighter than ever before.
And this is where the build-up unfolds. A slam on the bassline falls in line with a glittering twinkle which screams in high pitch. As the shrill note transcends in a glazed finish and pairs with that all-familiar bassline, here is our build-up. Like a shooting star, burning bright and piercing through the horizon, it glides through Upercent’s universe and continues to lead us to our destination. As our journey continues at four minutes strong, the squashed bass beats stretch flat in the background, destabilising themselves to move the album forwards to the next stage.
ATRAPA - THE PEAK-TIME MOMENT
It’s been noted to us that ‘Atrapa’, as an expression, translates into ‘addicted to something you like’.
We’re now mid-point through the album - and having been hooked in subconsciously through hypnotic rhythms and beyond, ‘Atrapa’ is certainly one for us to bask in its dependable charms. ‘Atrapa’, although mid-point, also marks itself as pivotal because of its noticeable change of sound. It’s lighter, sweeter, and ultimately more natural and flowing. As we enter point 0.01 seconds, a super-fast drum machine rolls: clapping, shaking and grooving itself into madness. Light as a feather, backed with a harder hit every second and fourth beat, sonic waves drape themselves over, and we become comfortable - our mood happy and optimistic. We’re now in peak-time performance. And doesn’t it feel glorious? Fluttering around, vocals come into play again, where the repeated rhythm vocal mesmerises itself into addicted trance. As the drum machine weighs up the drop, glimmers of golden chimes shimmy through the edges. A delegation of laser pows contradict with the natural, sourcing an outer-world epiphany we haven’t become aware of before in this track - merging itself with themes already established in previous tracks.
Half way comes, and we’re made familiar with the vocal cut again, indistinctly mumbling “do it like a”. Swirling around madly into oblivion, it swims into the abyss, gliding through the universe with voodoo flow, dotted with the soundscapes of not-so-long-ago. Pursuing the speed, yet with the sound slowly filtering out, the end still carries us through: this is dancing goodness as its most enjoyable.
ROMANCER - THE ENCORE
Penultimate track, ‘Romancer’ is much a definition of a lingering weapon. The track is a trap, as such. Waiting to pop - when you least expect it. Falling off the tail of such an upbeat vibe of previous, ‘Romancer’ comes across much colder and more unhinged than if it were a lone rider. A brutal build up of tough daggered throws, we almost feel as being marched into battle - could this be the unseemly peak-time performance we weren’t aware of? Chopping on a drum skin, in what seems its most organic form, allows the track to play safe with many elements showcased throughout the album: a natural-back infusion, if you may. Stomping through the trenches, from dusk to dawn in a total of one minute 18 seconds, a creak of sunlight yawns through the darkness, as we arise to air strokes pulsating around over our heads. Beating and bubbling under the surface, all concoctions brew delicately - until the clock strikes four minutes. A cry avails - caught off guard: this is a surprise. The drum skin beating once more, two sharp shots wail into the depth of battle. A welcome addition to liven up us once, this is the final call before all edges simmer down.
ARQUITECTE - THE FINALE
A change of pace and sound dynamics indicates the closing of the show. ‘Arquitecte’ again provides Upercent’s ability to be diverse and roam through different musical landscapes, whilst still holding onto elements and turns which run through each specific catalogue. Thus, with this track, the approach seems to stand different. There’s a running theme of deconstruction elements in a downtempo approach, indicating the album coming to an end. Breakbeat structure to show it’s breaking down. The track opens to an echoing chamber of chords, falling - like we’re stationed in an abandoned house full of dusty cobwebs as a vintage piano plays in the corner. There’s a sad solstice to its atmosphere, yet without overbearing the message in its stance. Typewriters bashing down, formulated glitches randomise repeatedly and a fractured beat kicks in. Dashes of sunny synths play once every often and help paint in some happiness to us all might be as gloomy ahead. A combination of frosted crunches, gliding synths and the drop kick of the structure pauses and restarts with a vague vocal, running itself in familiar ground with the earlier album. The breakbeat replaced by a classic four-beat framework, woodwork sounds and creaks now fade into loneliness.
Where artists like to utilise albums to craft a concept, Upercent does just that - yet this goes bolder than ever before. ‘Sentit Opost’ is in itself a mini showcase, where new and future identities bound to be found are interpreted through the five tracks. Building through ‘Agrair’, to harsher climes of ‘Les Granotes’, followed through sunnier times as ‘Atrapa’; ‘Romancer’ which calls for the need of attention, is soon softly padded down by the unique arrangement of ‘Arquitecte’. The cover artwork ties in with the expansive depth of sounds: brushes of many colours in different forms and finishes - its expression left blank, to let our minds stay open to own thoughts and feelings. A dash of colour through the blossom pinks and marmalade oranges leave a lingering state of happiness. Bold and bright, just like the story telling.
Interpret is, by self-admittance, a label of imagining your own creation - where expression is of self doing. And from Upercent’s own doing, with his avant garde choices and pathways. This paves the way for a label which was borne to make an impact around all music it surrounds. This is more than just art: it’s a brush of genius.
review by joanne philpott
‘Sentit Opost’ was released on Interpret on 15th October 2021