Review / 200 Words Or Less
Tessela
Rough 2 EP

Different Grooves (2014) Edward

Tessela – Rough 2 EP cover artwork
Tessela – Rough 2 EP — Different Grooves, 2014

This drug influenced, euro-electronic laser beam, drum and bass can be very, VERY repetitive, Anxiety inducing, tough to listen to, and at times I felt like it was going to trigger a panic attack or an audible seizure.

An ‘80s pop-locking, track suit wearing dance crew wouldn't touch this album that brings no emotion or anything of value to the table. 

It does have a deep and complex upbeat sound, although I can't imagine it being played anywhere else except a rave. There's so much going on, it can be overwhelming at times. I felt like I was listening to two space ships shooting laser beams at each other in a low budget science fiction movie. It brings back memories of playing Vectorman and feels like I got stuck in a Sega Genesis. I'm not sure how many times Tessela tries to get away with, “oh, you think the song is over...? Well, it’s not,” an example being track 2 titled “Butchwax” that will stop dead for a couple of seconds mid-song; only to kick in heavier with, pretty much, the same beat.

Luckily this is a short EP and I wasn't forced to listen to it longer than I had to.

3.0 / 10Edward • July 22, 2014

Tessela – Rough 2 EP cover artwork
Tessela – Rough 2 EP — Different Grooves, 2014

Recently-posted album reviews

Circuit des Yeux

Halo On The Inside
Matador (2025)

Haley Fohr's artistic vehicle, Circuit des Yeux, defies categorisation. Stamping the indie folk label on her was superficial, something dispelled easily once you have experienced the lo-fi distortion of "The Girl With No Name." It might be that under the layers of sonic disfigurement, a folk ethos is present in Fohr's narrative sensibility, but it is no longer the same. … Read more

ZEPHR

Past Lives
Dumb Ghost, Snappy Little Numbers (2025)

Sometimes you can just hear the passion in a voice. ZEPHR is one of those bands. They defy convention a little bit, in that I associate gravelly voices with harsher, heavier sounds, but ZEPHR use sore-throat vocals to great effect with midtempo, emotional and melodic 3-chord chugging punk rock and some DC sound. In few words, it's raw, both musically … Read more

Kreiviskai

Motinai
Infinite Fog Productions (2025)

Kreiviskai's origins are deeply rooted in the neofolk sound and ethos. Their debut record, Zemmis : supnãi, focuses on the musical lineage of Tver, embracing the traditional instrumentation to produce a somber and moving piece. Their follow-up record, Nonregnum expands outward, focusing on various historical events and introducing further influences. The pull of neo-classical is palpable, while the abrasive industrial … Read more