4 out of 5

Label: Analogical Force

Produced by: Doğukan Acar

Bridging the gap.

Fluctuosa’s Wetware EP, like much of Analogical Force’s output, takes heavy influence from hey-day Rephlex artists: Classics-era Aphex electro mostly, but with dashes of DMX Krew bop and, perhaps most directly on ‘Cobwebby’ – it’s hard not to make this comparison thanks to the Japanese sample in there – Bogdan Raczynski. But none of this feels derivative; Fluctuosa tastefully nods to these artists, but keeps indulgence in those nods tamped down, leaning in to a wholly different, and somewhat unusual, sensibility that’s mainly felt in the beats: pop. Wetware’s tracks feel very much structured like verse-chorus-verse tunes, and have a radio friendly sense of build and climax and rhythm. While this ultimately feels a bit limiting, never letting the tracks’ explorations go too far afield, it’s also a pretty unique cross-section of sounds that makes for a very accessible and familiar sound, but also not ably nailed down by either one of those descriptions. And when Fluctuosa switches to more of an IDM / ambient format on closer Stargaze – stepping away from those pop tune limitations – while it’s maybe less impressive from a top-down perspective, it ends up being one of the EP’s most rewarding tunes, showing there’s a way to keep the artist’s influences and sense of melody intact, while also continuing to push beyond.