Naming Autechre, Ambulance, Black Dog and the Beach Boys among his influences, the mysterious Dubliner Spectac has previously graced a handful of compilations on labels like Neuromantek, Lazybird and Infinite Sector, and he’s currently remixing Daniel Figgis, Sunken Foal (Ambulance), Booger and Formika. But to most of the world he’s an unknown quantity, here unleashing a debut album that describes itself as experimental electronica, and thus does exactly what it says on the tin. And a lot more besides.
What sets Rabbid apart is its uncanny ability to engage the listener on a level rarely encountered in a musical world so often beset by self-indulgence. Pushing the technological envelope is clearly an ambition, but we’re also dealing with remarkably assured self-expression, and a distinct impression that, on some tracks at least, a more traditional songwriting approach has been taken.
Restlessness pervades, and the range of emotions and moods Spectac squeezes into mere minutes is quite breathtaking, especially with such minimal music. Grand finale ‘Do You Want The Tea’ is a perfect example of its sublime melodies and sweeping mood-changes, while the subtleties of the blissful ‘Hexangular Bells’ highlight how much more less can be.

Spectac's FREE album launch takes place at the Project Arts Centre (Temple Bar) on Friday November 7th.