Senseless Records celebrate five years of nomadic bass exploration this summer with ‘Synesthesia’, a music and art project consisting of parties, exhibitions and a series of five limited vinyl releases, themed around each of the five senses and accompanied by screen-printed sleeve art.

The first of these offerings is ‘Synesthesia #1’, a five-track EP featuring Senseless alumni Rossi B & Luca and The Phantom, and a debut appearance from London-via-Warsaw producer Venice Calypso who kicks off the party with ‘Drifting’, a brooding electro bass hoofer that combines syncopated tribal drums and grinding, futuristic synths. Definitely a name to watch.
Grime stalwarts Rossi B & Luca step away from their usual 140bpm territory with ‘Turbo Island’, a dark broken beat riding sub-aquatic bass, growling drones and ravey stabs, with the lower tempo uncompromising on the production duo’s trademark energy levels.

The third cut on the vinyl release comes from The Phantom, who pays homage to Wiley’s beatless mixes from the golden era of grime with a “Devil” remix of ‘Arctic’. The absence of a regular beat gives the track an epic, cinematic quality with glacial synths and atmospherics climaxing in 30 seconds of pure sub-bass drone. Invigorating stuff.
Digital punters enjoy two extra tracks, with the full version of ‘Arctic’ featuring beats and vocal, and ‘Tugunska’, another sinister tribal workout from Venice Calypso.

A fine way to begin their 5th birthday festivities, this EP encapsulates the globetrotting essence of Senseless’ musical mission, and bodes well for the forthcoming releases in the ‘Synesthesia’ series.

Ed Oliver