Pitch Hikers

Twilight Zone

Nexus Media (South Africa)

A very interesting release here from Nexus Media, Pitch Hikers being a new project from mental-mongers Shift and Slug. You would be forgiven for thinking that pedal-to-the-metal nighttime mushroom madness was the order of the day; but the reality is much more fluid, smooth and generally easy-on-the-cranium.

Twilight Zone has a hell of a hook to it, a sort of schlock-horror movie theme that gets the hairs on the back of your neck standing up and has you moving towards the source of the sound to see what it’s going to do. Present Tense is a gorgeous record. There’s plenty of meat to it, with a delightfully chunky bottom end chugging along like a faithful Doberman. On top of this you get ravey noises, funky twists, atmospheric back-melodies and plenty of changes… and the whole thing has this air of significance about it, as though you’re hearing something genuinely new and fresh.

Ice Queen is another delight, the movement here is purely insane and it’s staggering to hear the balance of traditionally “dark” sounds with a sweet aeroglide vibe and – perhaps most significantly – a bassline I don’t remember hearing before. Sink In and Skyf both see the energy creeping up: still addictively fluid, but with more of that darkness creeping in. The sounds across the top are part ravey, part smooth electro, and the when it combines with the gnarly pace, the effect is something rather special. Colombia is a ballsy, inyaface tune with a sound that’s familiar and timeless all in one. And it’s a belter. It just hits you in the face, like Shift often does, but rather than pulverise you into a mulchy mess on the carpet, it leads you deftly through far-reaching, psychedelic, shit-kicking music.

Questions is a very, very strong track. We’re moving into more direct harsh territory all the time, but the funk and fluidity is still present and correct. Likewise Peaches, which keeps the momentum flowing and tight in what is nothing other than a tight, effective bit of twilight trance. All of which largely pales in the shadow of closing track Game On, which has that classic feel to it from start to finish.. .great movement, unbelievable atmosphere, and more balls than a pinball addicts’ convention.

This is one hell of an album – fresh, varied, interesting. There may not be quite enough to sustain the casual, play-it-through listener but DJ’s of the harder sound will certainly find their sets given a new twist of space and momentum with this beauty.

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