Authentic, fervent, genius, and family oriented; these are all words that accurately describe Martin Staaf, better known by his artist persona Liquid Stranger. When one contemplates which members of the bass music underground are pushing the sound and ethos at the very heart-pulse of the community, Mr. Staaf surely sits atop that list. Curating arguably one of the most impressive labels in the entire game right now, the illustrious and idiosyncratic Wakaan, Staaf leads the charge in propelling only the most experimental of sounds to the eagerly-awaiting ears of all his die-hard fans. His 30 track LP, Infinity, was released last year to raucous applause, showcasing each distinct type of sound this miraculous human being is capable of forging. He has once again graced the music realms with another unparalleled release, coming in the form of the 6 track Ascension EP, a perfect Valentine’s Day gift to the masses.
A psychonaut is defined as “a person who spends time exploring the universe right inside their own head. Usually with drugs,yoga, or meditation. This person is on a quest to discover the self, and usually can be considered a realist.” Liquid Stranger’s ‘Psychonaut’ is the perfect introduction into Ascension, setting the tone for the sonic voyage your consciousness is about to undergo. The beat builds into into a zipper-like monstrosity of a sound, almost like the unraveling of the mind that a certified psychonaut would experience at the beginning of a psychedelic experience, before reaching the brink of insanity that is the first drop. The opening notes are reminiscent of what one might expect to burst forth from an organ in the holy church of grime, both startlingly and exquisite at the same time. The tell-tale immaculate cleanliness that is Liquid’s production is readily apparent, and is even more-so highlighted later in the song when the initial fiercely intense energy cools and is replaced with a much swampier aesthetic, with more emphasis on each individual sound. The song ends with a speech that sounds straight out of a sci-fi movie stating “As the space time continuum shatters, the laws of physics no longer apply. While the body can be protected by a suit, the mind is left open and vulnerable. Only certain specially gifted individuals are able to complete the journey with their sanity unscathed. We call them, the Psychonauts.” Strap in, this is only the first of 6 tracks.
‘Ascend’ continues your journey upwards, a step towards the euphoria and elation phase of self discovery. The opening melody is goosebumps-inducing, creating a beautiful, warm electricity around the perimeter of your body. You’re greeted by immensely soothing, calming vocals, before continuing back on your bass-filled adventure. The energy takes a sharp turn, and Staaf’s signature wonky creativity is once again thrusted to the forefront. The string instrumental section that drifts you away to the end of the piece is exceptionally beautiful, creating an introspective aura that makes time slip by just a tad bit slower. The melodies of ‘Ascend’ are lush, rich, and perfect accents for the entire rest of the song. Prepare yourself for a true bass music symphony experience.
For as long as Liquid Stranger and Luzcid have been flying together under the Wakaan flag, it’s almost shocking to realize that they didn’t have a collaboration up to this point. Meet ‘Hammer,’ the answer to all that have been asking for it. The vocals “crank up the power” lead you up to the first drop, your excitement reaching peak levels. Staying true to its name, ‘Hammer’ hits borderline-unhealthily hard. A veritable sonic weapon, the low-end rumbles the earth between your feet. This piece strikes with such ferocity it could easily be mistaken for Thor’s trademark accessory, a mighty tool only to be wielded by the absolutely worthy. If the first drop wasn’t enough, the 2nd is even more primal in nature, featuring tight switches and a beat that touches down on the trappier side of dubstep, a definite blast to get buck-wild to.
For years, Australia’s Hydraulix has been a consistent player in the underground and a sure force to be reckoned with, and his collaboration on Ascension ‘Laser Burn’ continues this trend of successful frequency manipulation. Wasting no time getting into the thick of things, the hip-gyrating beat is hand-delivered almost from the opening seconds of the song. The sound calls to mind a much cleaner and amplified version of coins you left in your pants’ pocket hitting the inside of a dryer, and if you weren’t already aware, it slaps. An instant banger, the first drop is full of sound-wave sass, bursting with so much character it practically hops out of your headphones. The laser samples sound like something straight out of Star Wars, leaving you half expecting a Chewbacca, R2D2, or baby Yoda to be neatly tucked in along the way. This track is a joy to bust a move to, and will bring out only the happiest of expressions.
Sami Diament, formerly known as the lord of all things twonk, Brillz, continues one of the most successful artist rebrands that has occurred in the community with his rebirth in the form of LSDREAM, now pooling his enlightening efforts with Liquid to gift us ‘Sunken Technology.’ The combination of these two artists’ styles is a true treat on the ears, bursting with vibrations that mentally stimulate the listener to sheer delight. It almost seems as if the ‘Sunken Technology’ that’s mysteriously muttered about is a machine that promotes healthy mindsets in humans, unconsciously erecting a pleasant grin on every willing participant. The bass lines push the “experimental” in experimental bass to the forefront, somehow bringing about unity from what would separately be chaos. The 2nd half of the song feels like an underwater journey in a submarine, taking in all the odd shapes that roam the depths of our world. Just as the sub navigates the bottoms of the sea, this piece floats freely among the other inhabitants of the underground bass community, a bright beacon of nonconformity and an emphasis on individuality and free expression.
‘Over n Out’ caps off Ascension, a goodbye kiss placed gently on the ears, rather than the mouth of a lover. A soft parting, and a reminder that this is only a “see ya later,” you’ll be left thankful that Martin Staaf exists in the same time that you do. One can easily get mesmerized by the atmosphere created, lost in space and time as your mind drifts free of your bodily restraints, held down no longer by the weight of the world and the anxiety that can accompany daily life.
Liquid Stranger is a champion of the people, and a man looked up to by many of the brightest young minds in the industry. This is all without mentioning how absolutely incredible of a musician he is on his own, crafting only what truly resonates with him down to his core. He is a prime example of where hard work can get you, and a shining beacon of defiance against the norm. Ascension is masterfully put together, weaving a complex tale of growth and maturity, something that anyone can relate to. The emphasis on consciousness expansion and working towards your goals proves that he’s truly using his platform for good, only aiming to bring out the absolute best in his rabid fans. The love in the air is thick whenever any of these tracks are rinsed, as that was the original intention when Staaf was pulling them from his own mind. With as much growth as he’s had in the past few years, along with his first ever Wakaan Festival being a smash-hit, this man can steer his intergalactic spaceship in any direction he sees fit, just know that the final destination will be extra extra groovy. Check out the full Ascension EP for yourself below, and grab your free download here!
