Leyla Records presents their next VA: Unwitch - The Presence, featuring label regulars and newcomers alike.

Commencing proceedings with an industrial churner is Leyla debutant I Hate Models with 'Beloved & Damned', making use of crunchy drums and concise percussion. The sharp call and response stabs cut through the speakers like shards of glass, acting as a hook for the listener as the reduced tempo slugs and punches along.

47 regular and Scalameriya collaborator VSK provides a solid A2 with 'Inception'. Rolling drums and impressive sound design create a concrete wall of sound, dense in detail and off-kilter percussion. Ominous drones and one-shots marry together to produce a polyrhythmic feel, pushing and pulling the listener between aggressive propulsion and elongated pads.

The B-Side gets underway with an interesting first time collaboration between Chafik Chennouf (Leyla, Opal Tapes), Manni Dee (Tresor, Perc Trax), and Huren (Zhark, AMOK Tapes), crossing borders and styles to produce a broken-beat punk infused techno track. The sardonic vocals from Huren channel aggression, mocking the state of the scene, consumerism and exploitation. Chennouf and Dee collaborate to produce an acid infused roller, with halftime percussion and distorted kicks, backed with field recordings from Chennouf's visits to Morocco.

Fresh of the back of releases on L.I.E.S and Dekmantal UFO Series, Parrish Smith closes proceedings with 'Moshpit'. Grinding kicks and percussion establish a strong groove before shrill tones take the fore, eventually forming a quasi-melody. Drum breaks are utilised intelligently to propel things forward, with thick snares landing on the two and four, locking the groove together. Rave synths and detuned samples elevate the track to new heights, closing out the compilation with as many memorable elements as it started with.

Unwitch - The Presence

Various Artists | Unwitch - The Presence | LEYLAVA005

the binding glue to your boo-boo. xoxoxoxoxo

Lives in Berghain and alumnus of SoundCloud

I've been meaning to make one of these for years D: My bones crave darkcore, industrial hardcore, dark psy, powernoise, hardcore crossbreed, anything that has a gnarly as FUCK kick with a side of bash your face in 💝