Rez Epo - Reprorea [Chaosynod - 2015]Four years since his last offering, 2015 has Rez Epo (Konrad Materek) returning with a new CDr on his own Chaosynod label. Consisting of three long-form tracks, Reprorea showcases thoughtful, vibrant, electronic noise that almost feels alive. With a buzzing like sticking one's head into a mound full of insects, Rez Epo's latest is harsh enough to have some stones, but not so much to turn away a casual listener. Fading in like a fly orbiting one's head, "Life Comalisk" drones with wide oscillations before adding a few extra layers to the mix. Mids are soon joined by a big, beefy bumblebee of a buzz that adds a quickly moving and persistent low end. Oscillations of varying frequencies and amplitudes join in and leave the fray like an insect game of pick up football. There are points when the drones build to a nice, fever pitch, but overall, "Life Comalisk" (and Reprorea in general) moves and breathes at its own pace. Composed of similar colliding oscillations, but propelled in a different direction, "Hymobius Lodge" feels like the writhing mass of larvae on its way to maturity. The distance offered in the following minutes helps put this colony into scope, and it's larger, and more alien than at first expected. Higher, bubbly, somewhat aquatic wiggles show up in the back, and the listener is once again transported to another vantage point. Playing with the viscosity of drone layers, Rez Epo is able to add a very luxurious and textural dimension to what, in the wrong hands, could easily be turned thin and dull. "Traccr Helix" changes the pitch and pace as the closer. High and urgent, the hive is matured and on full alert. Ending with the appearance of the low, heavy warriors, the buzzing oscillations move to attack. The most adventurous of the three, "Traccr Helix" makes the most use of space and time with the ample use of delay starting almost midway through. Beefing up the layers in this manner adds quite a bit to the song, and makes "Traccr Helix" a standout track. Building off of the sounds and structures from the preceding tracks, the closer takes on a life of its own and ends Reprorea on a thick, heavy, buzzy note.
Rez Epo's interplay of drones works very well on Reprorea. Many albums use a similar approach, but are left feeling flat, while this album is textural and engaging. Long enough to make a point, but short enough not to get tiresome, Reprorea is a nice treat for those looking for a little bit of noise, but not enough to set one's head aflame.   Paul Casey
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