Khen & Sonic Union – Driven By Demand

Label: Tribal PulseScore: 7/10 

We profiled the Glasgow label, Tribal Pulse, on these pages not too long ago, marking them out back then as a label of real distinction. So quite how they’d follow up their last release by Boom Merchant we were quite intrigued by. Well, the music on their latest comes from a relatively unknown quantity in Khen & Sonic Union, and while the release might not quite hit the same sort of highs as its predecessor, it’s still got enough in its locker to force an impression in even the most discerning of rooms.

The title track, in original form at least, maintains a real kitchen sink approach, not least because of its sporadic and fully-charged first few minutes where the listener is left wondering just when it’s all going to subside a bit. But when the melancholic bassline envelops proceedings, it’s clear that it’s all part of a carefully executed plan. A difficult track to pigeonhole, it does lean towards progressive planes – meaning Pole Folder is just the man to rework it.

The Belgian’s approach to the original is one that’s far more stripped back than we anticipated. Leaning on only a smidgen of the original, he uses the synths to build up a frenzied atmosphere, while the rest of the minimal vibes only add to the overall ambiance. Khen & Sonic Union’s Tribal Pulse foray is a unique voyage through an unlikely sound sphere, and for those reasons at the very least they deserve our respect.