When a musician draws influence from unlikely sources, the results can be awe-inspiring. Nature and landscapes are often a go-to for producers to spark creativity, but this is certainly not the only means of doing so. For Austin Godburn‘s Phantoms, this source of inspiration is the group of characters in Yoshihiro Togashi’s fantastical Hunter x Hunter manga. “The group is notorious, and the thirteen members are all extremely powerful in unique ways. It’s made very clear when they’re introduced just how obscene and overwhelming the difference in power is between them and the main protagonists of the story. My goal with these tracks was to essentially aurally illustrate this contrast as well as inject sonic motifs related to each member’s special powers and traits,” Austin Godburn tells us.
Phantoms II, out on March 6 on PRIME, is a continuation of the original project, where Austin Godburn channels his inner genius to deliver eight mind-melting bass tracks. Ahead of the full release, we are excited to bring you ‘Machi’, arguably the project’s most enigmatic production. “This was the second to last track I made in the series, because Machi has an interesting dynamic with the leader of the group, Chrollo, and another member, Hisoka. This was my first attempt at anything 86+ bpm within the bass music paradigm and was initially just going to be halftime, but after writing the middle section that introduces a new melody, going into a drum & bass drop felt really natural. The intensity it creates is really appropriate for Machi’s character development.”
While drawing further influence from the likes of Mad Zach and Shades, Austin Godburn pushes these sounds to new limits with ‘Machi’. Creating a vivid dystopian undertone through electrifying synths in the introduction, the talented producer quickly flips the track into wicked, organized chaos. Contorted basses and eclectic percussion dominate throughout the drops, demonstrating Austin Godburn’s refined production skills. If that wasn’t enough, the drum & bass second half will simply leave you speechless. Strap in for a wild ride and give it a listen below!
