Essential Tracks: Shawn Rudiman & Jordan GCZ on AMS > PIT

I don’t think even he would agree with this statement, but everything Shawn Rudiman does is essential. As he told Bruce Tantum in a 5 Mag cover story last year, he’s gone through several purges of unfinished or unreleased projects. “It’s like, I hate this song, and I’m gonna delete it forever so I don’t have to think about it ever again,” he said. “But anything that’s survived those storms is probably worth keeping.”

Rudiman is also famously cavalier about blending genres (which is another aspect where the world is only now catching up to him). AMS > PIT, a collaborative EP with Jordan GCZ of Juju & Jordash, mostly falls under the rubric of “techno,” except nobody really makes techno like this anymore. “Catnip Freak” leads it off with a stunning flash — a pulsating spasm of vintage drum’n’bass distorted until it comes out sounding like speed garage but with Drexciya’s chords soaring overhead and overland. Each track has a soul, totally unique to it. They sound like they were made in randomly different eras with totally different sound palettes from one another. Given the creators, they probably were.

Other highlights here are… well, the whole goddamned thing. One of the best records of the year. Any year.

Rudiman + Jordan GCZ: AMS > PIT / Love What You Feel (February 28 2020 (12″ Vinyl)
1. Rudiman + Jordan GCZ: Catnip Freak (05:02)
2. Rudiman + Jordan GCZ: Hole in the Ground (05:43)
3. Rudiman + Jordan GCZ: Too Many Teef in My Mouf (06:09)
4. Rudiman + Jordan GCZ: Down to Biz (05:27)

FUTURE/CLASSICAL: This was originally published in 5 Mag issue 180 featuring Kate Simko, Rudosa, DJ Emmaculate, Microdot & more. Help support 5 Mag by becoming a member for just $1 per issue.