Introspection EP by Spencer Hardwick

After leveraging his imprint to provide a platform for deserving talent in techno, VAST Recordings boss Spencer Hardwick has offered up the label’s third release. The Introspection EP takes clear inspiration from the Blade Runner films and their challenging narrative around self-referentiality. It comprises three original singles as well as two remixes by Jason Patrick and Mike Derer.

“Are These My Memories” ushers in Hardwick’s body of work with a distinct sense of urgency. Wandering synth lines fall and intertwine repeatedly in a hypnotic haze, referencing the cognitive dissonance that might be caused by not trusting one's own memories. Unintelligible spoken-word samples only add to the psychological intrigue.

The second track of the EP, “Is This Real” depicts an increasingly tenuous and fleeting grasp of reality. Tense arpeggios and melancholic atmospheres evoke a sense of intense introspection and uncertainty.

No concrete resolution lies in store on Hardwick’s final track, “Why Can’t I Tell Anymore.” Its warbling melody poses more questions than answers, raising the stakes as each sonic layer enters the arrangement. The effort thus opens a door for Hardwick to explore similar themes in upcoming works.

Adding dimension to the EP are accomplished American artists Jason Patrick and Mike Derer. Jason’s remix reimagines “Are These My Memories” with dubby, reverb-soaked chords, keeping the tempo high while instilling more dynamic intensity throughout his rendition. Mike’s remix of the same track casts it in a psychedelic light, complete with resonant percussion and glimmering stereo artifacts.

What are our memories? What is reality? What is being alive? How can we know for sure? In the Introspection EP, Spencer Hardwick proves himself capable of transmuting such riveting quandaries into music. In doing so, he carries forth techno’s rich legacy of taking cues from science fiction, hinting at what’s to come from his rapidly growing discography.

VAST challenges the sonic status quo by transmitting a compelling interference pattern. It provides a platform for artist visionaries who embark on brave, new frontiers in the medium of techno. Such a forward-thinking influence is long overdue. It is needed now more than ever.