Hassan Abou Alam
Ice

Description

Egyptian artist Hassan Abou Alam delivers the 4-track EP Ice, glistening with unusual textures that glide through several soundscapes spanning techno, breaks, bass and unclassifiable noise.

The opener ‘Shmoolaire’ starts with skittery drums before descending into a squelchy bassline while squeaky vocal clips—courtesy of Hassan’s close friend—snake through the track. It’s weird, wonky and the perfect dancefloor curveball. Dominated by massive drums that shift from techno to UK bass tones, ‘Ice’ blends a sultry vocal with bleepy percussion, conjuring a sticky atmosphere. Things get spooky on ‘Hollow In C#’ as Hassan pairs a reverb-heavy vocal with chugging drums and eerie pads, echoing his mental and physical state during quarantine last year. Freaky but fierce. The closing track ‘Lost In A Jar Of Thyme’ ends on a distinct note. A warbling bassline slithers beneath siren-like sound FX as hyperactive drums evoke tension. A true, multi-disciplined artist aligned with the vibe of Nehza Records. Hassan Abou Alam has spent the last decade exploring disparate sound palettes and genres, from breaks to techno to bass.

Today, his curiosity is unwavering. Hassan produces music using a hybrid setup of analog and digital instruments, conveying organised but compelling chaos that’s won him legions of fans worldwide.