Album Review: Hybrasil, Embers

Hybrasil has been pushing to the forefront of the Irish techno scene over the past number of years. Now, however, he has truly come of age. Triggered by his relocation last year from Dublin to Berlin, on Embers, the maverick producer and composer has added an impressive new dimension to his sound.

The shift is a product of having immersed himself in the German capital’s world famous dance scene. Absorbing the new insights and sounds that were all around him, Hybrasil has changed gear smoothly, delivering a powerful and atmospheric debut that draws on those fascinating European currents and influences.

Mixing an upbeat bass-line with synths and hissing hi-hats, ‘Hathor’ makes for a wonderfully hypnotic opener: this, you sense straight away, is the real thing. ‘Ceres’ incorporates the darker elements of Berlin techno, before Hybrasil lightens the mood with the dreamy ‘Come Back’.

Introducing a propulsive rhythmic feel, ‘Ursa Minor’ is a guaranteed floorfiller. The uplifting ‘Igigi’ follows in a similar vein, though the use of percussion here gives it a more organic vibe. ‘Vela’, meanwhile, brings Embers to a spellbinding close.

Hybrasil is on a quest to perfect his use of modular synths. It is the pursuit of this holy grail that makes Embers – released on REKIDS, the label founded by renowned producer Radio Slave – so smoothly textured. This is a hugely promising debut.

Out now. 7/10