Hurtdeer
Meraki EP
CIRC030
05-12-2012

1. P.G.O.A.T
2. Feeling Shit Pulse
3. Honesty Crimes
4. Meraki (Duskky’s 007 Remix)
5. Kyoto Downpour (Bonus Track)

Art: Kent Hernandez

Hurtdeer’s bass explorations are a hybridized creature drawing upon the entire lineage of UK dance music, going back it’s origins while being influenced by what he just heard at the club last night while having a pint with his mates. The UK has been ahead of the game for some time now and this EP is a testament to that. While the U.S. is enamored with the aggressive and formulaic Brostep, Hurtdeer and the rest of the underground dance music scene in the UK has rocket launched into “some other shit.”

Not dissimilar to a D.M.T trip, Hurtdeer’s music is fast paced and full of complexity, with moments of ambient darkness as well as humor and self reflection. There’s also a non-linear element in which rhythms morph and change- employing techno patterns in one moment and going back to half step in another, filling in the gaps with gritty bass and playfully detailed sound design and field recordings.

If one is curious where dance music is at in the UK, one need look no further. Hurtdeer, alongside his cadre of fellow bass mavericks such as Duskky, Cogidubnus and the whole Broken Bubble crew are pushing the envelope fearlessly. This fearlessness is what defines them and probably also confuses the simpletons trying to fit everything into neat and tidy boxes called genres.

Hurtdeer takes the genre game and puts a stick of dynamite underneath it, and with a massive grin stretched across his face, watches as the neat and tidy box explodes into a million shards of pure “isness.” He takes the bits and pieces that interest him most and recombines them with the glue of his deft hand and meticulous attention to craft.

The result is Meraki. Enjoy the ride.