Bleep

Ike-Yard co-founder Stuart Argabright resurfaces on Blackest Ever Black with his first studio album as Black Rain in 18 years. Inspired by dystopian science fiction literature and his early years in New York in the late 1970s, his sound sculptures dive deep into the narratives of post-human and cyber-punk stories. Hammering rhythms and dark synth textures reflect the recounted neo-noir cityscapes. ‘Xibalba Road Metamorph’, the album's angry, angst-ridden centrepiece, revolves around the sadness and self-loathing of biotechnological alienation. ‘Endourban’ creates a similar feeling with its abrasive surfaces, mechanical beat and subtly dissonant synths. A deeply unsettling listen that tickles our fancy.