malcolm: baptem

Hot on the heels of their Pletnev and Panorama Channel pairing, Biologic invite rising French bass sculptor and Rinse selector Malcolm to the fold for a brave new excursion into the rave hinterland. Smelting down everything that there is to know, love and appreciate about soundsystem and bass culture, techno and melting pot alchemy, and compounding it and flipping it in a moody, deep stew, he delivers something genuinely unique and fresh here. "Badman" ignites the smoldering sonic session with a slow-mo swampy low-end vibe that tips its cap just as much to jungle as it does techno thanks to its sense of tension and classic samples. Remix-wise, Nathan Micay continues to unfold that immersive signature he's been developing on LuckyMe with a breakbeat-driven remix that brings aspects of trance and classic electro into the mix. "Damâa" takes the listener even deeper into Malcolm's reference-heavy mix as he teams up with fellow Parisian resident Glitter for a sublime Moroccan mission. Once again slow and moody, from its measured percussion to its rising harmonics, the mystic allure here is pure and palpable in both the full vocal and instrumental forms. The EP bids adieu with "Schaerbeek," which is powerfully unhurried, scant on kicks and heavily layered in psychedelic acidic layers, the real payoff happening in the last two minutes. Whatever end of the bass spectrum or hardcore continuum, it's easy to be all over this one. Fresh and exciting, yet completely entrenched in the rudiments of all things rave, bass, techno, and soundsystem, Malcolm has fine-tuned an exceptional blend of elements here. Once can only hope to hear a lot more from the young producer as he continues to forge his own unique path.