Umwelt knows his craft. From his no-nonsense acid-drenched electro assaults to his more thought-provoking works, the Frenchman can shred speakers as well as soothe souls. These two sides of the New Flesh boss sound combine as he returns to Shipwrec with the five tracks of "Collapsar". Worlds collide in the epic Galactic Empire. Beats are lashed with punishing acid rinses as a bold cinematic backdrop takes form. Collapsar maintains the grandeur, broad expansive chords stretching above a plain of tight percussion. A frigid stuttering synthline introduces Reflectivity, a line that breaks into a horizon searching melody punctuated by crisp rhythms and arcing keys. The breadth and depth achieved across the EP is staggering, Umwelt balancing dancefloor electro with introspection. This immersive quality comes to the fore in the sweeping soundtrack of Redemption Ark. That calm is cracked wide open with the frenetic finale. Day Zero incises from the outset, drums cutting into bulwark of bass before a barrage of keys attack. Exemplary from a master.

An incising snare marks the return of Luxus Varta to Shipwrec. Since his last appearance, Aquamarine Puzzle in 2017, the Frenchman has been honing his craft with releases on a spread of stellar imprints. Noise Figure is the culmination of that refining process, his sound and style being forged and framed within the parameters of electro. And these parameters are immediately tested. From the warbling bass and tight percussion of The Resetter, crystalline chords cascade before a shimmering string of wintery warmth. Terse beats introduce Building Peaks, wraith-like rinses offering space for playful forms to take hold. Fudgey basslines are unsettled by sci-fi synths, a touch of the otherworldly balancing this unique cut. The warm current of Lizardous penetrates the frostier funk of the EP, delicate and fragile notes thawing the cold rhythms and glacial undertones. Silver Girl contrasts autumnal shades with brittle harmonies, angles and lines curved by sheer musical craftsmanship. Shifting into electronica, the close is a complex composition that demonstrates Luxus Vartas breadth of ability. Gentle melodic ebbs are countered by echoes of the factory floor, the human touch coming to the surface with understated radiance.