Steve Hadfield - Bangers and Mash - Bricolage Records | The Electro Review

Steve Hadfield
Bangers and Mash
Bricolage Records
TBR: 30th April


Disintegration State front-man Steve Hadfield takes a trip to Bricolage to produce some experimental and stand-out material. Known for crafting dreamy and ambient electronica, Bangers and Mash is set to go the opposite way. A devastating surge through emotions and sensations, this new record harnesses chaos itself in order to soar through the nightmarish and intense arenas that live on the other side of the coin.


It begins with 808 deflate. A thump of bass and cymbal rumbles through, then a series of taps and rolling percussive sounds slide across. Synthesiser rises from the fizz and looping breaks begin to churn and chatter within. A droning melody that drips with lush sound design hangs behind wandering bass and digested beats. After a brief pause of melody, drums play out and tease a new compositional section from the pie. Scaling melodics jump and move in aerobic climbs as the snare and bass continue to strike in fractional delivery.


A damp and electronic sounding bass squelches out as more breakbeats rip through a series of progressions. Oscillating melodies start to chime and harmonise like digital bells. Insectish motions of tune frolic and bounce in motions that symbolise leaping and strange thoughts. Odd notes coalesce with harmony and fast runs of experimentation leave the listener baffled as persistent catchy riffs pound on the drums. LS19 Boogie is fast and frantic and full of drama.


Belly Bop opens on a bass that sinks and digs as it loops through a melodic phrase. Drums then begin to add tempo elevation to its striking pulse and new synthesiser sounds join to further invigorate the melody. The surging bass continues to curl and waver in its repeating journey through space. Eerie additives make the progression strange yet interesting as minor chord formations creep in the shadows behind the pump of rhythm.


Sunny light chords shine down and drums begin to crackle and snap in quick digital speed-runs. A heavy bass then begin to plod and rummage through the rustling illumination. Odd rubbery sounds begin to bend and grow in temporal dreams that mirror and reflect then vanish. Sparkling lanterns of harmony describe a forthcoming charm that hides within cacophonous mixtures. Bungle Is Passive, according to this one.


Scattery bass ranges out in thumping bars. Hard Normal Babby sounds like an homage to early Squarepusher. New pounding deeper thump-kicks begin to separate the bass further. A warbling sensation of sound fritters across the top as middle noises start drawing ambient and abstract lines. A rumbling undercarriage keeps a continual surge of energy as the intermediary composition rises into a splash of twinkling lights and foraging scales. Cymbals start to smash and peak the mountain of sound while individual grasps of drapery form folded patterns across the internal structure.


Plunges of horror saw find creepy bass-lines in a bubbling cauldron of effervescent sonics. A higher ranger of droning chord buzzes through in a dragging yet progressive rhythm. Speed in the drums enlivens the gloopy mixture of psyche-sounds as warbled and garbled formulations gather in conversational snippets. More melodic introduction brings yet more dimension to the number, thrilling imagery streaks across the mix of unnerving compositions. Murmur On The Dancefloor is stitched like Frankenstein's monster yet functions with expert design.


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Buy the music on Bandcamp