Ever since its inception back in 2011, Inspected has grown to become an important cultural influencer through their genre-defying record label and unique clothing brand. Although sometimes overshadowed by labels who focus on social media and branding, the Inspected team remain true to their craft, promoting the best music without getting lost in the superfluous details. Hot off the musically innovative Others EP and Read Once Then Destroy EP from Culprate and Chee, respectively, the label’s next release comes in the form of Ekcle‘s transcendental Yoja EP.
For those not familiar with Ekcle, the UK-based duo achieved an early-career goal in 2017, signing their debut Deshoda EP to Inspected. Each Ekcle composition could easily embody an extended play in its own right, as the duo blatantly disregard standardized time signatures and ceaselessly coalesce a mixture of styles. It’s truly impossible to compare Ekcle’s vibe to anyone, as one instant of a track may sound similar to Chee while the next can have KOAN Sound aesthetic, all without ever sounding disjointed. The Yoja EP, that has been over 3 years in the making and that we are ecstatic to premiere today, is further proof that the dynamic duo are as innovative as the industry’s finest. When asked about the differences between this newest project and Deshoda, Ekcle state the following:
“The way we have worked with the songs in ‘Yoja’ has been a completely different process to ‘Deshoda’. Everything in ‘Deshoda’ was an idea we grew with the project in mind. We approached ‘Yoja’ in a different way of taking already written ideas (even before we were together) and re-mixing them while keeping the flow of the idea in mind. It has turned out super interesting and you can definitely hear more our cinematic work in there!”
‘Within the Palms of a God’ leads off the project, introducing a classical piano melody before an insurmountable rise in tension flips the track into bass insanity. Although the latter half of the track heavily contrasts the first with its ethereal aura, the work is magically cohesive as crisp sound design shines throughout. ‘Totemfire’ is another masterpiece that is impossible to categorize, where listeners are brought on a roller coaster of genres over the course of five awe-inspiring minutes. ‘Moonstone’ stands out as another gem, as Ekcle continue to break down the barriers of conformity, offering peaks and troughs of energy coupled with flawless production. ‘Clandestine’ and ‘Crafted in Ice’ cap off the tumultuous Yoja EP, unleashing Ekcle’s musical genius to a new level, where they explore drum & bass, melodic dubstep, and just about everything in between.
The complexities contained in every track of Yoja are mesmerizing, yet Ekcle make these chaotic intricacies sound so peaceful and heartwarming. Do not sleep on this duo and dive into the pristine project below.
