Cabaret Voltaire’s Three Mantras might be the least known, most influential record of all time. An outlier within an outlier’s 16 year catalog, the mysterious slab is composed of two side-long tracks stretching over 20 min each with confusing track titles and a third track either completely missing(?) or intentionally omitted(??). Who really knows or cares. What matters is the reversed sampling techniques (a vibrant bouquet of dub & eastern musical influences) and a minimal drum machine beat resulting in a collage of crunchiness that repeats ad infinitum until the hypnotic grooves feel permanently imprinted into your brain. MANTRAS by N1_SOUND is an homage to this incredible piece of music while actually sounding very little like its obscure and largely uncelebrated reference.MANTRAS isn’t trying to recreate or rework Three Mantras, however, it borrows the inspiration or overall desired “experience”: Unabashedly acknowledging and celebrating where its particular sound came from, while giving the highest praise to its originators.“MANTRA 1” is at its core, a dance floor stepper that embraces white noise as an unconventional foundation for the track’s relentless eight minute journey. Skyhigh pads, 12 bit tape-hiss cymbal hits, and funked-out waka guitar-pop come in and out of focus creating an intensity that never seems to end.

The b-side eases off the throttle a touch with the spacious "MANTRA 2". Conga rhythms smear with distant electro-plucks and lush erratic synth pads to create an off-world alien soundscape for our extraterrestrial brothers & sisters to enjoy as a token of our appreciation while they are stationed among us. 

New release on Spiritual World.