Anticipate by Polito

Having debuted on the label in 2020, Butter Sessions welcomes Naarm/Melbourne collective Polito back for their second full EP. A live techno four-piece comprised of producers Robert Downie and Finnian Langham with dancers Arabella Frahn-Starkie and Hillary Goldsmith, Polito describe themselves as "a meeting of improvised contemporary dance and live improvised techno music, working together to create entrancing performance experiences". In a live setting the stripped down machine rhythms and physical manifestations combine for a modern twist on the producer/dancer combination of rave's early days.

The Anticipate EP takes its name from the final track's Kafka-inspired vocals, capturing how Polito present the energy of those live performances through four tracks of techno with a stealthy intensity, seemingly about to ignite at any moment. As for the tracks themselves, each are best described in Robert's own words:

"QFHB was recorded using a eurorack modular system, TR8-S, OP-1, and features my voice ruptured into caveman vocals. The name is pretty self-explanatory. It's a big beat!

"'Costume Change' was recorded using a eurorack modular system, TR8-S and Reaktor. The name is a reference to the magical smoke and mirrors imagery that comes to mind when listening to this track. Like there's something cunning going on behind the scenes. We are distracting you with a raised eyebrow while we load up our next trick...

"'Journey Worm' comes at you hard right out of the gate. We always have to put a chugger on our releases. This track was recorded using a Moog Grandmother, TR8-S and a eurorack modular system. We wanted to make this one sound super springy and rubbery, like a thick alien worm ripping through a cross-dimensional portal.

"'Hug Yourself' was recorded using a eurorack modular system, TR8-S, Korg Arp Odyssey, and features vocals from Finn and me. The text in the middle comes from Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis, heavily edited to make it sound more abstract and textural. It has quite a theatrical quality, with a lot of characters here fighting for your attention. While the curtains are slowly closing on the stage, they're pushing one another out of the way to get one last moment in the spotlight.

"The name is simply a suggestion to bring yourself back to your body in a time of need, and dancing to a beat is the perfect way to get you there. It’s like the world is collapsing in the song but maybe all you need is already within you. You can always hug yourself."

wearepolito.com