The best music is the stuff that sounds fresh and knocks you on your ass no matter when you hear it. Originally released in 2005 on Jerome Hill’s label Don’t, the Phlokkerbrained EP found its way to me via the recent digital re-release on its Bandcamp page. Sadly, the original artist Volker Wiegand died in 2008, but thankfully his utterly bonkers version of techno survives him.

“Knoten” jumps out of the gate like Dave Tarrida on nitrous oxide with stompy, chopped-up kick drums and a mutant garage bassline hovering overhead until the breakbeats make an appearance and the circus begins.

Things really amp up on “Firewater” with its swirling laser synths and a kick and bass combo best suited for an alien space rave. But the best is saved for last with “Spiliph,” sounding like Subhead meets a broken astromech droid with an attitude.

Every once in a while I come across things like this: utter madness that I am not sure how to work into a DJ set, but feel determined to try anyway just to experience the chaos that might occur. It will either be that or people looking at me like I am crazy. I’ve had both happen. This one is definitely only for DJs unafraid of either sending their audience into a frothing madness or running away screaming. There’s probably no in-between here.

Quick N Smart: Phlokkerbrained (Don’t Recordings / August 2021 / 12″ Vinyl / Digital)
1. Quick N Smart: Knoten (05:45)
2. Quick N Smart: Akno (04:20)
3. Quick N Smart: Firewater (05:45)
4. Quick N Smart: Spiliph (05:19)

⚪️ Disclosure Statement: This record was not submitted as a promo.

This was originally published in #FutureShock: 5 Mag Issue #193 with Oona Dahl, Art of Tones, More Ghost Than Man and more. Support 5 Mag by becoming a member for as little as $1 per issue.