Influenced by such diverse characters as Mark Twain and Stephan Bodzin, Alexander Shtanoprud has been at the cutting edge of the underground dance scene with his Mondkrater production soubriquet. A Proton Music regular, Alexander now returns to the imprint with a brand-new three track EP in the shape of "Binary".

Inspired by the German electronic dance music scene, the Ukrainian born artist has continually impressed since debut work for Ideological in early 2013. Before that, Shtanoprud found success with the Mode B pseudonym and releases on Mango Alley, Particles and Ryan Davis' Back Home with the 2010 "Arina" EP. Using the Mondkrater alias to represent a new sound, the name perfectly represented his specific and unique brand of "soul-floated melodic electronic dance music". Full of imperious production techniques and sound design, the Mondkrater sound evolved into a beautiful representation of Alexander's personality and musical potency.

Supported by such eminent artists as Stephan Bodzin, Barry Jamieson and Dominik Eulberg, Traumwelten, Klangwelt and Click Records have all played their part in featuring the Mondkrater sound, with the latter accounting for the outstanding "New Illusion" EP in November 2016. Furthermore, Proton Music has been responsible for helping shape the sound and development of the Mondkrater name through two high-calibre original EPs. 2015's "Mercury" and "Icarus" EPs won support and plaudits from fans and peers alike as a quartet of blue chip remixes saw Oliver Lieb, Mononoid, Huminal and Orsen continue to keep Mondkrater in the spotlight.

As Mondkrater now returns to Proton, the musical triptych that is "Binary", showcases the Ukrainian's redoubtable production talents. Opening track, "Stellar Depth" is full of brooding electronica menace. A hypnotic and eerie sequence evolves elegantly across the six-minute offering, providing a subtle and textured bed for analogue bass to fit perfectly atop as dominant kick and intelligently placed percussive sounds find their mark, not least in delayed claps. The resultant work is a menacing masterpiece.

The title track is full of percussive urgency as machine gun hats and percussion fire off a dramatic rhythmic bed in perfect synchronicity with resonant kick and cavernous bass line. A stylish riff makes its presence felt in delicate fashion as a shimmering freeform melody, full of dazzling delays, reaches its zenith in the breakdown before emerging once more with white-noise fuelled pad in the third movement.

Final track, "Limb" continues the evolution of the Mondkrater sound with its dance floor credentials and head-shaking groove, illustrated through off-beat hi hats, low-frequency kick and trademark delayed claps. Building with consummate ease via pulsating pad and emotive chord progressions, a sumptuous crystalline lead finds its voice at the mid-point, building with metronomic bass stabs that usher in a third movement that returns to scintillating rhythmic construction and melodic threat.

Three definitely goes into two as Mondkrater and his musically astute "Binary" EP put the '1s' and '0s' in all the right places.

Directed by Jay Epoch
A&R by James Warren
Mastered by Cid Inc.
Design by Ben Mautner
Text by James Warren

Binary

Binary (Original Mix)

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