SHXCXCHCXSHSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs

Behind the unpronounceable name SHXCXCHCXSH hide two musicians born in Norrköping, an industrial city located in the South-East of Sweden. After moving to Stockholm, this two-member act started building their trademark techno upon experimentation and dark sounds. Their unique offering feeds from diversity and musical exploration, from drone, glitch, noise, industrial, and other styles. This cross-genre approach has successfully proven itself in their two previous LPs, “STRGTHS” (2013) and “Linear S Decoded” (2014), both put out by Avian. But as things always come in threes, the same label has not hesitated to put its well-deserved trust in them once more. Their new album, which is entitled “SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs”, will see the light of day on 6th June in 2×12”, cassette, and digital format.

Avian is a record company that has always shown a true commitment to contemporary forward-looking genres. Having said that, and for those familiar with the imprint of these two Swedes, it is no miracle that this third collaboration has come true. SHXCXCHCXSH follows the path shown in their preceding albums and EPs, but this time “SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs” finds the duo taking a step further in terms of experimentation. The 15 tracks this inspiring album consists of play with evocative layers, industrial effects and different percussive sounds, both conventional and non-conventional. Far from the typical 2/4, their structures speak about catharsis and paranoia, most of the time leaving easily recognizable rhythms behind. This leads listeners into a feeling of continuous expectation. Indeed, repetition, distortion and tension would be keywords here. The fourth track (not mentioning track titles for clarity) is constructed on an organic multilayered Sci-Fi sequence that grows constantly until it turns the piece into a truly psychoactive trip, without the aid of any kick, drum or any other traditional beats. Of course, the rhythm is clearly there, however, it seems that the duo invite us to go find (feel) it instead of providing it in a diaphanous way. The fifth track is again an insistent circular composition based on repetition. Here, crushed delays and metallurgical sounds transport listeners to a dystopian future of grey smoking factories. In fact, this futuristic feeling is also present, among others, in the subsequent track, where frequency alteration and space sounds intermingle with a frantic four-step sequence and an ongoing quarter note kick. The ninth deserves a special mention. First, because it is a killer, and second because it is as mesmerizing as the others, but its structure does incorporate an undoubtedly danceable beat. The tenth is just a masterpiece. It is also an elliptical piece that reminds some arcane instinct. Actually, it does share similarities in sound and cadence with Peder Mannerfelt’s “The Swedish Congo Record”.

With this album, “SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs”, SHXCXCHCXSH offer some of their most powerfully emotive work yet. The fifteen songs are both appealing and immersive. The pace set by soundwave oscillations and/or industrial effects on most of the songs provokes a hypnotic, even lysergic, impact. This, together with simple sequences and their progression from sober to overwhelming, transport listeners to distant landscapes and urge them to dig into their inner feelings. Indeed, just as some of their previous compositions, the tracks do not lack of the evocative, intangible essence of ambient or drone, but it doesn’t stop there. Instead, they keep drilling and drilling deep into our minds. Slowly, ceaselessly, endlessly…