Bleep

Skee Mask returned with a surprise eighteen track album on the mighty Munich institution Ilian Tape in 2021

A mainstay on the label since he first shot on to the scene in 2014, it’s no hyperbole to state that Skee Mask just keeps getting better and better with each release he shares. Having ventured into a more widescreen, uptempo, multifaceted and altogether more timeless sound on 2018’s seminal Compro after a string of mostly techno-centric releases beforehand, Pool further develops this sound into a place of seemingly limitless potential.

Skee Mask's mastery transcends style and apparent tempo restrictions - notwithstanding the various beatless interludes, Pool flits between 130bpm up to 170bpm+ without ever settling into any tangibly recognisable genre templates. Opener ‘Nvivo’ is a kind of cosmic electro; ‘CZ3000 Dub’ is subby, melodic techno built around tubular bell jangles; ‘DJ Camo Bro’ sounds like Future Sound of London doing a footwork tune. These three are on the first plate alone. The only time Skee Mask’s orbit really comes close to the signature Ilian Tape sound is on ‘Breathing Method’, a killer slab of stepping, broken techno with percussive vocal snippets bouncing on top. The defining feature of Pool is its wildly adventurous spirit, take ‘Harrison Ford’ - a staggering technicolour beat in the LA mould, with a face melting hair metal guitar solo bedded in.

Yet another flawless release from the genius mind of Skee Mask. Pool is the sound of an artist doing absolutely whatever they like, traversing a multitude of realms and dimensions and excelling throughout.