Best in Underground | EVSTGHXST

EVSTGHXST

Replacing actual letters in your artist name for roman numerals is a sure fire way to a) get your name on a snapback b) get 14 years old to bump your shit.  Fortunately for us, emerging out the short lived and frankly dead witch house scene, comes EVSTGHXST; Virginia based Tipping Hands Rec member.

For those of us (me included) that willingly rode across the dreary straights upon the bandwagon of which-house, we are able to familiarise ourselves with the notion that the scene never really delivered what was promised. Instead, what we got was unsynchronized base hits, unsatisfying and droney excuses for baselines, topped with 4 / 8 bars of Gucci Mane slowed down and lazily lolling over the shop; oh, don’t forget the claps (the fucking claps) 

EVSTGHXST is a breath of fresh air and a move in the right direction as the artist is able to manipulate contempary styles and textures, whilst simultaneously sticking to a witchy brief. EVSTGHXST is the product of an orgy comprised exclusively of your entire catalogue of favourite down tempo artists. Listening to the music, the snare rolls, slight rattles and depth in claps immediately set the tone, and it feels like watching the pitter-patter of autumn rain tickle across a conservatory roof. Effortlessly layered on top the deep synth sweeps and sombre vocal sampling at times extend over the percussion, whilst slight fluctuations in tempo create a strange euphoria at the end of each bar as though the listener was trapped in a time, evoking a sensation of clarity.

EVSTGHXST’s music is down tempo and depressing, without a doubt. But not in a way that evokes anger or actual feelings of sadness. It’s the kind of gentle whisper the floats gently into your ear canals and down your spine reminding you of love once lost. It’s not music to fuck, or cry to, but music that holds you; reminding you not to.

@tomjaundice

Tom Jordan