The Fear Ratio - Refuge Of A Twisted Soul FLAC

Every track on this album is a banger, but the stand out track is Era. Reminds me of older Ae. Really great music in this album.

"After teasing with the Kasm spin off 10” release, Legendary IDM imprint Skam presents the second LP from The Fear Ratio – the joint project of two of the UK’s most respected artists James Ruskin and Mark Broom. Refuge Of A Twisted Soul expands upon the styles prevalent on the 2011 debut LP Light Box, continuing to explore and fuse the styles that sit between techno, electronica, IDM and more interestingly here, hip hop. The piece opens with a distorted, skrewed vocal on ‘Blood Soldiers’ before settling into a gloomy stepping beat, which is picked up and followed on ‘Sect’, yet here the duo infused a scattering of jolting synth stabs. Next is the beat dexterity of ‘Hopper’, rolling with a slick industrial chug and bright chimed flashes, whereas ’07 Cycles’ builds on the austere atmosphere with dark drone undercoating and ethnic samples up top. The sobering ‘Ferm’ is the pair’s most obvious nod to the early 90’s electronica of Aphex, Boards Of Canada et al, with frittering, twitchy percussive complemented by heart-rending, ambient chords. Although, Refuge’s strength lies in its daring, yet effective marriage of styles, which shine brightest on the stepping dystopia of ‘Era’, pulsating throb and rollicking drum licks of ‘T15’ and the chunky squelch of closing piece ‘ONEFIVEOOOOH’."

Interesting springs to my mind upon first listen. Definitely rings a bell from previous productions by some well known artists in this style, yet the release differs in its approach. Four to the floor is the basis as opposed to syncopated beats. Their plan is obviously a step in the right direction for the style and a welcome addition.