vatican shadow: luxor necropolitics

Dominick Fernow's Vatican Shadow returns with a new double-pack for his own Hospital Productions imprint following on from the recent Rubbish Of The Floodwaters 12" for Ostgut Ton. Luxor Necropolitics was once again produced by Joshua Eustis of Telefon Tel Aviv, and it includes a super rare remix from Female of Sandwell District fame. Clocking in at almost 40 minutes, this is the most substantial Vatican Shadow release since 2016's Media In The Service Of Terror LP and further develops Fernow's creative collaboration with Eustis, who provides a much more lean and dynamic sheen to those highly atmospheric foundations. The opening, title track provides evocative exposition; this is Vatican Shadow at its most cinematic and unreal; before "Intel War" jolts with increased propulsion and bass pressure and a killer soundsystem focus deployed with precision and depth. "Crown Prince Hamza" is much more squashed and feral, before a new "Red Headband" version of "More Of The Same" takes the original into even more anthemic terrain; this is surely the most memorable, enduring, and club-focused Vatican Shadow track of all. As if to further etch it on your mind, the vinyl edition offers a final exclusive track, a reworking of "More Of The Same" from Female, who takes the original and duffs it up, completely discarding that synth hook and instead intensifying the menace, heading down a Sandwell-shaped cave that will reminds you why you've loved pretty much every Female production. Cut by Matt Colton at Alchemy. Edition of 700.