



Tennis' legacy is carved in stone at this point, the label will be true to it's name as a timeless staple in forward-thinking production. After a massive week as a standout two-day event at Sonar and opening the white isle, the Life and Death crew continue the summer celebrations with their newest EP by Israeli producer Autarkic. As a self-described purveyor of 'soulful dance music with a post-rock aesthetic', this one falls in the latter category for the tastemaker imprint. Reflecting the progressive sound of the city itself, this Tel-Aviv-based producer is a shining example of innovative club culture. Marking his debut on Life and Death, Autarkic is one to watch.
The four-track vinyl double pack embodies an artist stuck between generations. Dedicated to analog, all tracks present a stream of consciousness take on psychadelic shades of punk, dance, and disco. Feeling like a night at the Hacienda, Autarikc's utter disregard for current trends is what artists need in a role model. Temperate live percussion sets a stage for synthetic exploration in title track 'Heavy Dreamer'. Lost in 8 minutes of ever-changing melody, the dominant punk rock leads are the only resemblance of a chorus and resonate like a stage of full stacks. The title track stands as a testament to this new wave of artists, coming from the shores of Israel’s Mediterranean coastline.
Everpresent tones of kraut and punk rock flow throughout the EP, beginning with Some Things To Keep, a pumping, warehouse floorfiller. Autarkic steps up to the mic, often reamping and distorting his vocal delivery, placing it alongside finelyprogrammed keyboard riffs, tough drums and further psychedelia. Realistic Guru, the trippiest of the lot, is tailormade for an earlymorning DJ Tennis afterparty excursion. Slowing down the pace on Powerhouse, Autarkic hints at moments of Bauhaus’ and Tones on Tail’s doomanddance pop, while offeringupa digitalonly, strippeddown, bonus version.
Yet another cornerstone in the catalog of this unstoppable brand, these sounds are the ones we wait for. Evidence that Tel-Aviv is an artistic breeding ground for an elegant sub-culture, make sure it's on your radar. Catch the Life and Death movement as Tennis and crew continue to spread the modern techno-punk gospel.


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