DX2OV – INTERZONA

Gost Zvuk continue hot on the heels of their singular Roma Zuckerman 2xLP 'The Phenomenon Of Provincial Mentality' with this second album proper by like-minded Russian producer Dima Drozdov. Under the shadowy alias of Dx2ov, on Interzona he plays with an array of fairground-like melodies, lo-fi house motifs, buoyant space-age optimism and old-school UK breaks. Along with the strong emphasis on melody, at the forefront of his style is a keen ear for off-kilter, scattered percussion, with 'Voices' shining as a curious example of polyrhythmic, synthetic metallophone meshing with gritty Roland rhythm box styles. The album glides between these sharper moments and experiments with gloopy, submerged aesthetics and Madlib-like phone call snippets ('OK') as well as minimalist, Detroit-inspired funk on the microhouse-esque 'Loop' - another highlight with its perfectly placed and skewed vocal lead.

'Agnostic Title' runs close to 130bpm with a tight drum pattern reminiscent of the excellent 'Gesicht Aus Diamant' by 100Records, a minimal gem from 2005. Dima's track channels similar ecstatic synth propulsion, with what sounds like a warped choral disintegration washing in and out of the stereo field. More trippy vocal distortions all around! The influences run wide and deep across Interzona, from beat tape hip-hop to US house/techno and library music. The ambient closing cuts also tread a similar path at points to label mate Flaty's AEM Rhythm Cascade & Dices collaboration. A well-placed second installment in Gost Zvuk's 2024 catalogue.

Fergus Clark