Autonomous Zones by Dhangsha
“Autonomous Zones” is the re-release of the album “Dhangsha” initially put out by the label “sound-space” in October 2020. This time round there are two additional tracks: “Local Apocalypse” and “Zoonotic.”
In February 2020, Dhangsha went to perform at the amazing Bogotrax electronic festival in Bogotà, Colombia, where he played several gigs and conducted a number of workshops. Within two weeks of his return, he performed at the Control Voltage experimental night in Southend, UK and realised a transformation had taken place in his sonic delivery. A week later, covid lockdown kicked in. The music of “Autonomous Zones” was written during the following six months, taking in to account his experiences of playing on superb bass heavy sound systems and the reactions of the audiences.
Dhangsha music is always built around alien ‘call and response’ motifs, underpinned by sparse but very syncopated kick drum patterns - there is no '4 to the floor.' The hi-hats are never straight sixteenth or eighths but more often closely related to the African clavé. This seriously ‘off grid’ programming is not intellectually contrived, but motivated by a FEELING to ‘remove the bars of the cage’ - to create a ‘freedom of movement.' The almost complete absence of snares opens up the landscape. If the listener is initially disorientated, well, that is the feeling when your crutches have been removed and you have to learn to move - and by extension - think independently, rather than necessarily following the crowd.
Moving on from 2019's Future Tense, the bass pulses are deeper and more insistent and the distortions a little more threatening - an indication of things to come.
Tracklist
| 1. | Autonomous Zones | 4:38 |
| 2. | Intentions | 5:16 |
| 3. | Heavy Manners | 4:47 |
| 4. | Dancehall Mutants | 5:08 |
| 5. | Sincronizar | 4:56 |
| 6. | Systemic | 5:36 |
| 7. | Dislocation | 4:54 |
| 8. | ACAB Riddim | 4:28 |
| 9. | Local Apocalypse | 6:02 |
| 10. | Zoonotic | 6:46 |
Credits
All compositions written and performed by Aniruddha Das (copyright control 2020), except "Systemic," written by Aniruddha Das and Herman "Soy Sos" Pearl. Recorded and mastered at Red Reception, Harrow, UK.
Dedicated to Erick Arellana Bautista for his brilliant and unflinching response to these rhythms and to Catalina Rincón for her belief in this music and instigating and organising Dhangsha's trip to Colombia.
Photograph by Aniruddha Das. Thanks to Shakti-Rose Windsor Das.
License
All rights reserved.
Dhangsha (Bengali for 'destruction') creates dark, edgy soundscapes where distorted alien motifs evolve and disintegrate over sparse but heavy beats. His remit is to explore minimalism, repetition and fragmentation in sound, and the potential, using these principles, to express or imply political sentiment.