- There is a lot of great techno hammering around Sydney’s increasingly shuttered streets, at the moment. Some of that previous statement is true, some of it hyperbole. The Techno is definitely great, Hviske and Enderie for example are worlds apart in sound but serve a distinctly isolated creativity that seems to be resonating through Sydney’s provisional commitment to it’s artists. Grupo Records artist Scarpin, contributes to this spirit in his unnervingly promising release, Habitual.
With an austere sense of minimalism, the mysterious Scarpin has tapped into a very physical vein of rhythm, harmony and texture. Opening tracks, Habitual and Resort Living are suggestive of a new orthodox, almost inscrutable breaths of gregorian tonality are stripped of their cutting edge and pace adjunct to primal throbs. A private practice of simplicity in the hope of surviving harrowing times. His work has the power of isolation and anxiety to inspire a fight or flight response giving his techno a self-possessed severity - like having a polaroid of your favourite local club hanging above your instruments, you scratch at it every time you realise you can’t go back and visit or perform, your community is gone.
Such exaggerated desolation is served with great juxtaposition of beauty. Vast swathes of wistful piped air in Pastrel or the elevating piano reprieve in Wonders! offer glimpses of escape like the framing of clouds between buildings or a refreshing wind channel, allowing a mindful appreciation of challenging spaces, almost like an urban zen.
It’s a dystopian sound that Scarpin has produced, on par with that of Actress’ 2017 release AZD. A projection of palpable apprehension at large with the minute offering a semblance of grace and serenity. You can look out across Sydney and see trails of steps that all track past venues of yesteryear to an increasingly emboldened casino. As you plot, you find resilient and creative individuals. Scarpin’s Habitual is of world class appreciation, it’s size, gravity and entropy executed with durable individuality.
- Nicholas J. Rodwell.