Exalted Encounter by Valura
Second EP in the Elements series on Rebekah's label
Exalted Encounter is the second release on Rebekah's Elements series/label (the first was a three tracker from herself back in 2014) and comes from a little-known German producer named Valura.
Two original tracks focus on the element of "earth" while Rebekah and Serbian producer Lag provide their own interpretations.
- Exalted Encounter A
- Exalted Encounter (Lag Remix)
- Exalted Encounter B
- Exalted Encounter (Rebekah Remix)
On her previous release, the Broken Circle EP, Valura demonstrated a keen ear for deep, menacing Techno, particularly on opening track 264; so if that style of Techno spawns endorphins in your brain, then both Exalted Encounter tracks should be on your shopping list.
Drumless and barren, the A version paints the proverbial post-apocalyptic scene, with visions of earth bearing the brunt of a hard-bitten winter. Lag's reworking introduces a machine rhythm to the flow, altering the original's vibe virtually beyond recognition, leaving us with a brand new track (and a very good one too).
Moving across the seasons, the second encounter sees the earth truly warming up, with an optimism that heralds an alternative set of elements - the building melody and intense drumwork reminiscent of Inigo Kennedy's excellent NGC512 EP.
Rebekah's contribution is a no-nonsense, thumping effort, clearly aimed at peak time, but like the Lag effort, sort of breaks up the overall flow; perhaps the two originals on the A-side would have provided a better sequence?
- Rating: 6/10
- Listens: 11
- Highlight: Exalted Encounter A
- Label: Elements
- Release Date: 4th September, 2017