- Ancient Monarchy is a new Berceuse Heroique sublabel for "raw UK shit," expressing a desire to return to golden-age jungle rave but "with a fresh twist." With this in mind, the label has been shrewd in recruiting anonymous Bristol producer Rhythmic Theory for its debut release. RT has explored a range of styles over his three-year career, and done so proficiently, if not always thrillingly. But his best tracks betray a subtle junglist influence, whether it's the rolling grooves of last year's "Tales Of Dystopia" or the Metalheadz sound palette of 2013's "Legacy Of The Lost" and "Riveted."
The tracks here are Rhythmic Theory's most original to date. Both contain the same base elements—windswept chords, loping drum tattoos and little else—but they're formed into strikingly different forms. "Shores Of Caladan"'s sombre funk is freighted with melancholy, while on the B-side, some minor tweaks—saturation on the drums, a touch of dissonance to the chords—gives us an apocalyptic peak-time banger. There may be plenty of coal-black Bristolian techno around at the moment, but none of it sounds quite like this.
TracklistA1 Lucid State
B1 Shores Of Caladan