Codex - Knifemaw Wildstyle EP

No Agreements

Nick Felaris AKA Codex - Toledo, Ohio based graffiti artist, musician and animator - follows up his 2020 project 'Alleycatface' with another serving of abstract instrumentals and deranged delights on his 'Knifemaw Wildstyle' EP.

Knifemaw Wildstyle is abundant in ideas and ways to turn things on their head - instrumentally obtuse and creatively fertile. Obscure in essence this 14 minute EP defies structure, and logic in places. It conforms to no norms. This material exists outside the walls of understanding. Wrapping your head around it is a futile game. Codex's aim here is to undo what you thought you knew. It's music with no hooks or niceties to hold onto. You never know what's around the corner - scatterbrained. Codex's style borders on schizophrenic - material that sounds mentally aloof. Here one second, gone the next. Codex has created a work that is as strange as it is alluring - a deadly combination. Idiosyncrasies leak through Knifemaw Wildstyle like liquid through cracked cups.

Unique is an understatement. It's a real rarity in the music world for a release to be as bent out of shape, yet still adhere to somewhat of a listenable experience. There are glimpses at moments of structured workings, but for the most part it's made up of once-off instances. How and why it works is a question for another time. You're not going to find a more jam-packed - spilling with ideas - 14 minutes of music this year.

Amphetamine-fueled plunderphonics. It greatly reminds me of Four Tet's work in spots. The 'No Agreements' label are on a bit of a winning streak as of late.

Favourite Track: 480pADD