‘Mixtape_01’ is the debut drop from Vienna-based ssolve, and a low key hit of the reset button on a range of electronic musics. Reconstituting strewn sounds from club nights and noise gigs, ssolve’s fresh sound takes in liberated dark beats from gqom, kaleidoscopic neoperro, along with guttural industrial throbs (and screams). ssolve moulds these pieces into a fresh little world of heady glocalised bass, beats, and bombast. Behind the mixtape’s sounds lie years of experience ghost-writing, producing, and sound-designing for a range of projects.

Finally let loose, unconstrained, ssolve’s tentacles blossom across cinematic granules of thudding light on ‘Ultra Forever’, sculpt an intimate ambient prayer on ‘Waves’, or slice samples into visceral dancefloor-ready riddims on ‘RYTM F’, ‘RYTM C’, and ‘RYTM D’.

Born in Germany, ‘89 to a Namibian/German Household, ssolve has lived in Vienna for over a decade. ‘mixtape_01’ was co-created with Enesi M., Ragnheiður Erla Björnsdóttir, and Ernst Lima.

Text by Tristan Bath
credits
releases February 9, 2024

Cover: Ernst Lima
Written, recorded, mixed by ssolve
Track 11 & Track 7 written with Enesi M.
Track 4 written with Ragnheiður Erla Björnsdóttir
Track 10 written with Ernst Lima
Track 3 written with Christiane Peschek for her Installation "FOREVER" @Alba Gallery, Vienna 2023