- Despite growing up in the same city (Washington D.C.), inhabiting similar social scenes and touring the US together, it's only in recent years that Ital and Aurora Halal have collaborated. United by a passion for shadowy club music, the pair debuted their collaborative live show at Unsound New York in April. A month later, they followed up with an excellent EP on Ital's Lover's Rock label.
According to a recent interview with Thump, the razor-sharp techno of "Ascension" was the first track Ital & Halal made together. You'd never guess listening to it, though: the intricate mesh of stabs and cosmic splashes suggests a seasoned partnership. "Phase 2" is more mellow and just as meticulous, with a humid palette of swirling pads and plump, echoey 303s. Midway through, everything springs to life—it's the release's standout cut by some margin. "The Thirst" sees the pair back on rave duty, though this time the stomp of the drums is offset by a luminescent wall of sound. The Day After is apparently a homage to the pair's shared enthusiasm for LSD, and indeed the title track signs off in a suitably dream-like haze. It's a metaphor that's easily applicable to the rest of the EP—rich, varied and intense.
TracklistA1 Ascension
A2 Phase 2
A3 The Thirst
A4 The Day After