3 out of 5

Label: Analogical Force / Isness

Produced by: Ethan Hardy

Isness is the new sublabel from IDMers Analogical Force, highlighting “unusual” sounds.

ir_ – aka Ethan Hardy – drops Threnode as the first release on that sublabel, and given the supposed m.o., it’s an odd choice.

Threnode shares a limitation that a handful of AF albums do, perhaps somewhat expected in the imprint’s support of newer / younger artists: in a genre quite shaped by a few heavy-hitters (namely some Rephlexers), many releases end up sounding like remixed elements of those influences. This can still produce some unique output, and either way there is skill and passion at play, but if you’ve been listening to this stuff for decades, the occasional AF release might land with a bit of an identityless thud.

Threnode is far from that, as Hardy employs some more contemporary influences as well, structuring their electro with traditional pop chorus-verse-chorus-climax flows, and there are some choice “organic” elements (keys, percussion) and effects included that give it flair, but still, the driving factors are sounds you’ve heard from Aphex, or u-Ziq, or 00s Warp electronica, etc. When Hardy plays it muted – such as on the excellent Apathy – the sounds are reigned in, and more personal and expressive. Otherwise, though, there’s a youthful digest and regurgitation of aforementioned elements that’s beautifully affected, for sure, but nonetheless derivative of what’s come before, making it hard to identify as Hardy’s work if you’re just passing by.

Outside of the rating, there’s also the curiosity of this “isness” imprint, which seems focused on Hardy being from the US South; this doesn’t offer any real discernible difference from Analogical Force-proper yet, as far as I hear, but I look forward to both more izness and _ir to hear the sounds develop.