Cuddling Monsters_CM Vol. 02 by Cuddling Monsters

ZentaSkai and Laura Merino Allue return to Mask Records as Cuddling Monsters with volume two of their vinyl-only house and techno series.

Photo by Cuddling Monsters/Mask Records

Arriving on a limited 200-copy translucent orange vinyl, "Dark REM" on Cuddling Monsters’ second release on Mask Records is a hunched-over and direct dub techno cut with forceful drums and deft percussion, adding texture next to warm, sustained pads. This most frictionless groove has a real sense of urgency, which means it cannot fail to cast a spell on the dance floor.

The fantastic "Event Horizon" is then infused with the aura of deep space - sustained chords with a cosmic edge add vast scale to the well-programmed deep techno drums. "Monster Talk" is a mid-tempo dub track with underlapping drums and rattling, rusted chords that disappear to infinity. It's cavernous and evocative, with myriad little details occupying the mind. "Temporal Aura" is another standout sound that blends deep techno, dub, and minimal into a serene soundtrack that encourages inward reflection while driving onwards through the cosmos.

Mask Records founder ZentaSkai and his creative partner Laura Merino Allue are Berlin mainstays helping shape the underground. Cuddling Monsters is a new project that debuted on the label in March. It is all about crafting music with analog instruments, which they believe "offer distinctive sonic qualities, creative constraints, and genuine sound reproduction." They explore Detroit-infused house, dub techno, and minimal soundscapes with raw edges and a great sense of atmosphere.

Cuddling Monsters - Cuddling Monsters_CM Vol. 02
Release Date December 2024
Label Mask Records

Tracklist
A1. Dark REM
A2. Monster Talk
B1. Event Horizon
B2. Temporal Aura