Itako – Muted Patterns (Album – Sonic Groove)
Genre/Influences: Tribal-Techno, Techno-Body.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Itako is a French solo-project driven by Raphaël Ott. One year after the “Broken Materials”-album (2022) we get a new full length featuring eight songs.
Content: “Muted Patterns” brings different influences together. There’s a sort of Technoid-orientated basis which has been joined by Electro-Tribal influences and solid bass lines. I also noticed a few softer cuts which have a more evasive feeling. But the main essence of the album remains dark and into Tribal influences.
+ + + : This is an interesting production for the mix of Tribal elements together with Techno and harder EBM bass lines. It’s apart of established standards and yet totally suited for dancefloors. The atmospheres hanging over the songs are not only dark but still have something tormented. And that’s a cool contrast with the cadence which is sometimes pretty sexy. “Erosion” and “Zero Reign” both are absolute attention grabbers.
– – – : I noticed 2 more evasive cuts (cf. “Neckpain” and “Raw Ceramic”) which couldn’t convince me.
Conclusion: Itako bring us a very artistic and even a bit futuristic Tribal/Techno work.
Best songs: “Erosion”, “Zero Reign”, “Protected Land”, “Ten Years Of Glory”.
Rate: 8.
Artist: www.facebook.com/itako.disco
Label: www.sonicgroove.com / www.facebook.com/Sonicgrooverecords
About Itako
Itako is the solo project of Raphaël Ott, based in Strasbourg, France, blending electro, acid, techno, new beat and industrial across a range of tempos. He debuted with the album “Broken Materials” in 2022 through Sonic Groove.
Itako followed with the eight-track album “Muted Patterns,” written, produced and designed by Raphaël Ott, released 3 November 2023 through Sonic Groove in digital and CD formats.
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