Alley Catss & S Olbricht (Opal Tapes, 2014)
Published April, 2014
by Easterndaze
Following in the footsteps of the SicSic Tapes Alpár/Carla Under Water/S Olbricht split, is another proof of the healthy state of Budapest’s electronic scene, the numerous impromptu collaborations and happenings, improvised sessions or heavy analogue synth abuse hosted by the splendid Ballacid studio housed in the concrete housing estate of Új Pest.
After Martin Mikolai released his well-received solo album on Opal Tapes last year, he has shunned ego-masturbation in favour of introducing further talent from the Hungarian capital, the Magyar Zodiak Club, as they say. Apart from the aforementioned, it is also his recently released Norwell Cleaning Tapes split.
Alley Catss & S Olbricht by Opal Tapes
Alley Catss is one of the newer additions to the city’s sprawling underground scene. The fresh-faced producer (you can read our interview with him here) has made his name on Sewage Tapes release. Largely renowned for his beat-based stuff, he also makes offbeat, noise-oriented music. On the Opal split, he merged both of his sonic guises into a 17-minute epic journey that somehow sounds much older than his 15 years. Elements of jungle, rave, techno or break/beat feature on his A side resulting in an imaginary paranoid forlorn soundtrack to a lonely walk home from a non-existing squat party. Martin’s B side is more abstract, hovering in the liminal zones of consciousness, reflecting his more sombre, contemplative side of personality.