Thavius Beck

Growing up in LA, Thavius Beck entered the hip-hop scene as member of Global Phlowtations, and released several solo albums under the Adlib moniker. In later years, he released five albums under his own name on labels like Mush, Big Dada and Plug Research, and also produced albums for artists like Saul Williams and K‑the‑I???, and did some remixing for amongst others Nine Inch Nails.
Beck’s take on electronic music can best be described as ‘experimental/instrumental hip-hop’, (a la Flying Lotus), but comparisons like ‘between DJ Shadow and Orbital’ and ‘a mix of Massive Attack and The Orb’ have also been made. At U-TRAX, we see Thavius’ music a happy marriage between hip-hop beats and techno sounds.

The irresistible opening track Lovesick/Still Sick presents a sultry, downbeat soundtrack to Shannon’s classic vocals, followed by the melancholic and spacey saw-sounds of Airwalkin’, that are bedded in a solid hip-hop beat.
Then things get arty with the cauldron filled with sax, guitar and piano tones that is Metric Bounce, that, mixed up with some grim beats, becomes the sonic equivalent of a mirror palace.  Maniacal high looping synth sounds and low bass punches are what gives Mania its name, followed by the much needed counterpoint My Angst Is Louder Than Yours. This track won’t let you relax much though: the dark atmosphere, haunting piano ladders and whispering voices in this track may very well serve as an alternative sound track to The Twilight Zone. Spooky! The EP closes off in similar fashion, with ...May As Well Be Infinite, which is entirely build around the sampled string section of a symphony orchestra, taking the listener to a higher plane. And higher, and higher…

Listen to and download this EP:

Available for digital purchase and streaming: June 11th, 2021.

All tracks mastered by Ballyhoo Studio Maastering.
Artwork by Sfera Louis.
Graphic design by Botterman Ontwerp.