- Nene Hatun was a Turkish heroine who led a brutal counterattack against invading forces in the early stages of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877 - 1878. That the Berlin-based Turkish artist Bestie Aydin chooses to work under this name gives you a sense of her heritage. Aydin's previous Nene Hatun releases have explored this in various ways, using religious field recordings and traditional Turkish rhythms over forward-thinking pop and drone. Her first solo 12-inch, comprising four almost-techno tracks that lurch in the shadows, sounds at home on Bedouin.
The A-side sounds meticulously pored over, with minute details and samples pulled together using a mixture of gear and Ableton. Aydin takes an improvised approach on the B-side, and for its sheer sensory overload, this method works best. "Dementia" is brutal, opening with spiritual chants that are swiftly subsumed by a monstrous low-end. What sounds like an ogre belching becomes a crude rhythmic element.
Intricate drum programming is one of Aydin's most potent tools. It instills a clanking, tactile quality that overwhelms "Asceticism" and "Double Bind." Recalling Modern Love's output, the scrupulous approach on these tracks gives plenty of detail to swim in. This record feels more inspired by Aydin's sound installation work than techno clubs, so it will be interesting to hear if this changes as she spends more time in Berlin.
TracklistA1 Asceticism
A2 Double Bind
B1 Dementia
B2 Altruism