An Engrossing Sonic Journey: Slikback’s Album “Attrition” (2025)
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Distinguished artist Slikback created a sonic masterpiece in 2025 with “Attrition,” a bold representation of innovative sound crafted meticulously over time. This long-anticipated album marked the artist’s groundbreaking debut with the renowned music label, Planet Mu. Hailing originally from Kenya and having spent a season of transition in Poland, Slikback channeled his broad worldview and distinctive rhythmic philosophy into this art piece. The year was eventful for the artist, marking new beginnings both personally and professionally—marriage, the birth of a child, and a major record label debut.
As an album, “Attrition” presents a captivating auditory experience, akin to a suspense-filled movie that shocks and thrills the senses at every turn. Its structure deviates from the norm, showcasing Slikback’s innovative approach to music creation. The pace and intensity increase as the album progresses, resulting in a play of sounds that range from calm and gentle to chaotic and fast-paced, leading up to a thrilling climax. This abstract form reflects the uniqueness of the artist’s inspirations and path, embodying his motto—creating beauty from chaos.
Although “Attrition” is predominantly entrenched in standout genres like Gqom, Dubstep, Tech-Step, and Hardcore Techno, the album sees Slikback venturing into the uncharted territory of high-tech soundscaping. It is the manifestation of the thinking process of the artist, who discussed drastically transforming some tracks from their original sketches to bring forth a journey within each track. A notable track from the album, “Taped,” takes an unexpected turn by introducing a 160bpm rolling bassline, a recurrent method used in Planet Mu releases.
Understanding the legacy of Planet Mu, which has an array of electronic music genres and a contribution of over three decades to the music industry, adds another layer to our perception of this album. Headed by Mike Paradinas, the label carries a deep history of avant-garde genres like Intelligent Dance Music (IDM), dubstep, jungle, breakcore, grime, and footwork. Not just the hub of artists such as μ-Ziq, Kid Spatula, and Tusken Raiders, it also became the home ground for Slikback’s vibrant debut.
The alignment with Planet Mu for “Attrition” signified a transformation for Slikback. While the creative process saw him work under structured schedules and external inputs, the artist embraced this shift as a blessing rather than an obstacle, highlighting an evolutionary moment in his career. He was able to explore ideas thoroughly and develop full-fledged compositions without feeling the need to alter the product.
Drawing comparisons to the likes of Venetian Snares or Luke Vibert for his intricate sound design, SlikBack’s “Attrition” sits as a testament to his ingenious approach to music composition. His carefully crafted narrative style creates something alien and beautiful emerging from the chaos. As such, “Attrition” serves as an auditory journey that stands unrivaled, marking a turning point in Slikback’s music career and setting the stage for a bright future in the realm of electronic music.
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