@cortical_fm

Plasma Sources marks its 5th release with Cortical’s debut EP, Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes. Pulling from both the extreme fringes of experimental music and the minimalistic tendencies of the UK bass continuum, the duo’s much-awaited first release acts as the locus point between dance floor sensibility and sonic exploration in its most immersive, visceral sense.

Cortical are world builders first and foremost. With backgrounds rooted as much in the visual arts as audio, the duo’s live AV show has already garnered critical acclaim after standout performances at Sonár and Lunchmeat. Coupling this with their list of past collaborators - which includes the likes of Holly Herndon, Arca and Skrillex - and it becomes easy to see why there’s so much hype around Cortical right now. Indeed, this EP is the culmination of months of building excitement amongst those in the know, as fragments of raw footage captured from Cortical’s shows begin to amass on social media.

Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes itself feels like the auditory equivalent of a fragmentary existence forming, fragmenting and reforming again. Noise and distortion act as integral threads throughout the EP, but on Telúrica, they takes centre stage. Brittle percussive calls give way to a thick wall of bass-laden, cinematic viscerality which hits the listener almost as hard as the ensuing rhythmic carnage which erupts halfway through. 
Mortar, immediately fires away into more rhythmic madness, as elements of dubstep, metal and grime coalesce into blasted kick patterns which sound like the contractions of an eldritch machine’s digestive tract. Noise-tainted bass tones take over, tearing in and out of reality as Mortar progresses into deeper territory.

Up next, Shiny Surgery provides a respite, with electro-tinged drippings of lasers and wet gloops lifting the listener into a more sanitised and lighter space than its predecessors. Cortical’s extreme musical influences are still at play here with their signature eroded bass weight and splintered percussion on display, but in a more restrained sense. As the halfway point comes in, so too does the most introspective section of Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes, as cinematic floating pads de-sterilise the space.

Finishing things up is the namesake of the EP and arguably the most anthemetic listen of the release. Demented vocal chants call out across a disintegrating claustrophobic space, before grime kicks and fragmented breakbeat loops explode into existence, demanding full dance floor attention.

Download

Cortical - Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes (PS005)

Our 160 Edit of “Astra,” released last year on https://soundcloud.com/fixedabode, is out today on all DSPs.

Free download available via SoundCloud.

Mixing/Mastering by https://soundcloud.com/iamxato

Ice_Eyes & Locre - ASTRA (160 Edit)

Plasma Sources marks its 5th release with Cortical’s debut EP, Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes. Pulling from both the extreme fringes of experimental music and the minimalistic tendencies of the UK bass continuum, the duo’s much-awaited first release acts as the locus point between dance floor sensibility and sonic exploration in its most immersive, visceral sense. 

Cortical are world builders first and foremost. With backgrounds rooted as much in the visual arts as audio, the duo’s live AV show has already garnered critical acclaim after standout performances at Sonár and Lunchmeat. Coupling this with their list of past collaborators - which includes the likes of Holly Herndon, Arca and Skrillex - and it becomes easy to see why there’s so much hype around Cortical right now. Indeed, this EP is the culmination of months of building excitement amongst those in the know, as fragments of raw footage captured from Cortical’s shows begin to amass on social media. 

Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes itself feels like the auditory equivalent of a fragmentary existence forming, fragmenting and reforming again. Noise and distortion act as integral threads throughout the EP, but on Telúrica, they takes centre stage. Brittle percussive calls give way to a thick wall of bass-laden, cinematic viscerality which hits the listener almost as hard as the ensuing rhythmic carnage which erupts halfway through. 
Mortar, immediately fires away into more rhythmic madness, as elements of dubstep, metal and grime coalesce into blasted kick patterns which sound like the contractions of an eldritch machine’s digestive tract. Noise-tainted bass tones take over, tearing in and out of reality as Mortar progresses into deeper territory.

Up next, Shiny Surgery provides a respite, with electro-tinged drippings of lasers and wet gloops lifting the listener into a more sanitised and lighter space than its predecessors. Cortical’s extreme musical influences are still at play here with their signature eroded bass weight and splintered percussion on display, but in a more restrained sense. As the halfway point comes in, so too does the most introspective section of Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes, as cinematic floating pads de-sterilise the space. 

Finishing things up is the namesake of the EP and arguably the most anthemetic listen of the release. Demented vocal chants call out across a disintegrating claustrophobic space, before grime kicks and fragmented breakbeat loops explode into existence, demanding full dance floor attention.

Cortical - Mortar

www.instagram.com/cortical_fm ( @cortical_fm )
www.instagram.com/plasma__sources/

Plasma Sources marks its 5th release with Cortical’s debut EP, ‘Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes’. Pulling from both the extreme fringes of experimental music and the minimalistic tendencies of the UK bass continuum, the duo’s much-awaited first release acts as the locus point between dance floor sensibility and sonic exploration in its most immersive, visceral sense.

Cortical are world builders first and foremost. With backgrounds rooted as much in the visual arts as audio, the duo’s live AV show has already garnered critical acclaim after standout performances at Sónar and Lunchmeat. Coupling this with their list of past collaborators - which includes the likes of Holly Herndon, Arca and Skrillex - and it becomes easy to see why there’s so much hype around Cortical right now. Indeed, this EP is the culmination of months of building excitement amongst those in the know, as fragments of raw footage captured from Cortical’s shows begin to amass on social media.

‘Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes’ itself feels like the auditory equivalent of a fragmentary existence forming, fragmenting and reforming again. Noise and distortion act as integral threads throughout the EP, but on the first track, ‘Telúrica’, they take centre stage. Brittle percussive calls give way to a thick wall of bass-laden, cinematic viscerality which hits the listener almost as hard as the ensuing rhythmic carnage which erupts halfway through.

Mortar, immediately fires away into more rhythmic madness, as elements of dubstep, metal and grime coalesce into blasted kick patterns which sound like the contractions of an eldritch machine’s digestive tract. Noise-tainted bass tones kick in, tearing in and out of reality and slowly 
dominating the environment as Mortar progresses into deeper territory.

Up next, Shiny Surgery provides a respite, with electro-tinged drippings of lasers and wet gloops lifting the listener into a more sanitised and lighter space than its predecessors. Cortical’s extreme musical influences are still at play here with their signature eroded bass weight and splintered percussion on display, but in a more restrained sense. As the halfway point comes in, so too does the most introspective section of Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes, as cinematic floating pads de-sterilise the space.

Finishing things up is the namesake of the EP and arguably the most anthemic listen of the release. On Wretched Patterns And Terrible Mistakes, demented vocal chants call out across a disintegrating claustrophobic space, before grime kicks and fragmented breakbeat loops explode into existence, demanding full dance floor attention. This is pure-peak time energy, although still entirely in line with Cortical’s immersive approach to world-building and sonic exploration.

Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes operates equally as an enclosed, hermetic exploration of Cortical’s fragmented, low-end focused sonic landscapes and equally as an assortment of dangerously effective club tracks guaranteed to turn heads.

Written and Produced by Sevi Iko Dømochevsky & Daniel Benza 
Mixed by James Ginzburg 
Mastered by HYPNA 
Artwork designed by Cortical

© 2024 Plasma Sources.

Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes

Telúrica

Cortical - Telúrica

🎊 Next STUDIO Event in Paris (21.12) : Sicaria, Thys, Tatyana Jane & more  → https://bit.ly/40JwxAw
⚡ Stream / Download 'Cortical - Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes' → https://urlz.fr/sJNz

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Cortical delves deeper into its sonic exploration with the 'Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes' EP. Out on Plasma Sources.

https://soundcloud.com/cortical_fm
https://instagram.com/cortical_fm/

https://soundcloud.com/plasmasourcesmusic
https://instagram.com/plasma__sources

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STUDIO LINKS

Email → info@wearestudio.fr
Website → https://wearestudio.fr
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Facebook → https://facebook.com/wearestudioofficial
Instagram → https://instagram.com/_wearestudio
YouTube → https://youtube.com/@_wearestudio
LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/weare-studio
Bandcamp → https://wearestudioofficial.bandcamp.com

Cortical - Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes [Premiere]

AKA HEX - Do The Rite Thing / Hex On Fire
Cat. Nr: DN033
Format: Digital
Release Date: November 22, 2024
Buy / stream: dansenoire.ffm.to/AkaHex

AKA HEX is a brand new collaboration between Aïsha Devi and Slikback.

Devi has always used her music to look outward, beyond the confines of club music and the avant garde towards a space that's less predictable and far more mysterious. She was born in Switzerland with Nepali Indigenous heritage, and her transversal identity has helped her navigate the underground as not just a producer and vocalist, but as a curator. Co-founding the Danse Noire imprint in 2013, she used that platform to launch her breakout EP 'Hakken Dub / Throat Dub', following it up with the labyrinthine 'Of Matter and Spirit' album in 2015. Devi's interest in sonic alchemy and multi-dimensional expression was further developed on 2018's 'DNA Feelings', coming to an overflowing head with last year's enigmatic 'Death Is Home', which featured a collaboration with none other than Slikback.

Born and raised in Nairobi, Slikback is one of the world's most adventurous producers, taking elements from the wide spectrum of club, noise, ambient and rap musics and forming them into a psychedelic lattice of high intensity sounds and emotions. He's spent 
the last few years prolifically contributing to his canon via his Bandcamp stream, this year compiling the highlights into the frenetic double-LP 'SLIKBACK' – 22 tracks of future-facing, soundsystem-ready experimental club sounds that define his journey so far. 

Together, they synthesize their artistry as AKA HEX, welding kinetic, bass-heavy rhythms to zig-zagging, sci-fi tinged soundscapes and mutant vocals. It's Devi's most dancefloor-focused material in years, and Slikback's most alien to date, bridging the chasm between avant-pop, experimental club and hallucinogenic ambience.

Mastered by Raphael Valensi 
Artwork by nmr.cc

buy / stream

AKA HEX - Do The Rite Thing

Excitement is brewing as we lock in for Corticol’s much-anticipated debut EP, ‘Wretched Patterns and Terrible Mistakes’, released under non-other than Plasma Sources. The EP marks a significant milestone for the duo, who have been steadily building their reputation with captivating live AV performances at renowned venues like Sónar and Lunchmeat, and through collaborations with industry giants such as Holly Herndon, Arca, and Skrillex.

● Plasma Sources - @plasmasourcesmusic
● Cortical - @cortical_fm

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Connect with Rendah Mag
● https://rendahmag.com/connect

Cortical - Shiny Surgery [Rendah Mag Premiere]

This two-track EP creatively reimagines the same core hook across two distinct genres. The first track is a hard-hitting, trap-infused anthem, layering thumping 808s with sharp hi-hats and aggressive rhythms, delivering a raw, bass-heavy vibe. The second track flips the script, taking a more experimental approach with intricate breaks, glitchy textures, and warped basslines, pushing the boundaries of sound design. Both versions showcase the versatility of the hook, bridging the worlds of hip hop and experimental bass music in an engaging, innovative way.

It Kinda Cool (Cracked Version)

Yoko

Taken from SBKT070: estoc - Are We Doomed to Bow to the Stupid and Cruel?
Release date: 26th June 2025
Artwork & Design: Amber Jean
Mixing & Digital Master: Nori Kin
Vinyl Master: Raphael Valensi

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estoc presents the newest manifestation of her artistic practice: an attempt to make sense of a world seemingly hellbent on violence as its chief export. Art written as a direct response to the conditions felt both at home and watched across oceans through a phone. This album exists as an acknowledgement that our fates are inextricably intertwined, yet, our (temporary) comfort is extracted from the third world. Across 10 tracks the question is: Are We Doomed to Bow to the Stupid and Cruel? Answers are posed and then brushed away, like dust from a shelf. By the end, nothing is settled and we are left with more questions than answers.

Collaborators and co-conspirators weave in and out of the compositions, their presence felt as both adornment, and as integral infrastructure. DJ Haram opens the album with ‘Heretic’. Her voice swims through crackling noise, throbbing basslines — a guided meditation as much as a late night conversation. ‘The Weight’ follows directly after. AZADI.mp3’s smoky chants hover in the air above a smouldering fire of trip hop drums and synths, devolving to a miasma of distortion and swirling screams. The next song, ‘Where Do We Go Now’, builds and swells with rumbling synths, arriving fully as breaks crash forward and Military Scientist’s voice cries out over a chaotic sea. The first solo composition of the album comes in the form of ‘The Poison of the Centre’. A solemn yet off-balance meditation of drums, cut over an uneven and shifting beat. This rhythmic fervor is multiplied tenfold on ‘No Glory’, a harsh bath of bass and drums, constantly fighting for space to breathe through the manufactured scarcity of the mix.

‘Scorched Earth’ lends us our first breath of fresh air. Mia Carucci sings a lullaby over growling instrumentation, Exploited Body’s co-production threatening to boil over at any moment. A momentary break in the clouds, a beam of sunlight shines through before being quickly swallowed back up by the storm; gone as quickly as it came. It is here that we plunge even deeper, as the heartbeat of ‘Heaven Defined for Another’ rattles through. Machinery and exasperated breathing become inexorable, both driven to their breaking point by a rolling wave of thunder. This mechanical terror roils forth on ‘Cradling’. Miedo Total sets clattering steam and cogs over crying strings that threaten to throw themselves to pieces. The penultimate entry sees Violence lend voice and production to ‘Bones Broken, Many Things Left Unsaid’ — a deep terror lurches, shuddering and crashing like ocean waves. A gentle chorus of strings ushers in the final piece, ‘Scratch a Liberal’ — a rare, but fleeting moment of tenderness on the album. Heavy towers of bass throw the composition into shadow, tension builds and grows before collapsing in on itself, revealing the fear and violence at the core of this project. At the end of it all, we are left alone to contemplate what is to be done.

Preorder

estoc - Scorched Earth (ft. Mia Carucci & Exploited Body)

Sunset In Varkala.mp3

Double Negative (Bass Temp & Moupe) - We Are (FREE DL)

SC: https://on.soundcloud.com/3hGt351crOBPqHo5NF

IG: https://www.instagram.com/iznmi_techno?igsh=cTcwazdlejh1Y3J4

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IZNMI - Blood in the Wires [FREE DOWNLOAD]

Slang

Catrialis Remixes

Loyalty XIX - Alta (Ingrate Remix)

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Cortical - Telúrica

Plasma Sources

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