Top 100 Chart Placements
Updated 2 years ago
Figure marks its latest chapter with X54, a gripping new EP from French production talent KUSS. Known for his meticulous work with hypnotic rhythms and tactile textures, his debut release for the label thrives in the darker, more introspective corners of the club. X54 is a perfect example of tension-building-balancing forward-thinking sound design with the kind of dancefloor efficiency that Figure is known for. While the EP is defined by the heavy, metallic undertones that KUSS has made his own, the record also features two collaborations with Clotur. These tracks bridge KUSS's clinical percussion with Clotur's knack for expansive, cinematic atmosphere. Together, they create a sound that feels both surgically clean and sonically massive. Built for the late-night hours and the depths of the club, X54 is an uncompromising addition to the Figure catalog.
Following his previous appearances on Figure, French producer Arkan returns with Mad Race, a four-track EP that further sharpens his distinct vision of mental techno. Balancing hypnotic restraint with driving intensity, the release finds the artist navigating deeper into textured, immersive territory while maintaining a strong sense of propulsion throughout. The title track Mad Race opens the record in forceful fashion, locking into a tightly wound groove as restless synth movements and looming atmospheres continuously build pressure around the rhythm section. Revival follows with a more spacious approach, letting emotive chords and swelling layers unfold gradually over a firm, rolling foundation, capturing a feeling of momentum suspended somewhere between tension and release. On the flipside, Sawlim pushes further into trippy terrain. Dense percussion and spiralling effects interact with pulsing low-end pressure to create a heads-down club tool filled with subtle movement and detail. Closing track Interlude shifts the focus once more, exploring a more restrained and introspective mood through cavernous textures and hypnotic repetition while still holding onto the EP's underlying drive. Digital bonus track Make You Horny rounds out the package with a rawer and more playful energy, bringing punchy drums and jagged synth work together into a functional late-night workout. With Mad Race, Arkan continues refining his own blend of deep, atmospheric and cerebral techno, further cementing his place within the evolving sound of Figure.