Blurring the lines between reality and dreams is a theme that Degray sees as commonplace in his music. The ethereal and misty sense of a fantastical dream-world is conjured throughout all of his releases, blending mysterious ambience with entrancing beats for his individual sound. The four-track ‘End Paradox’ EP marks his sixth on his Parse Audio label, following up from acclaimed releases such as ‘Dimensions’ and ‘Origins Pt. 1’, which saw tracks get airplay from DJs such as Jamie Stevens, Joe Miller and techno trailblazer Enrico Sanguiliano in his mix for BBC Radio 1. While for now this Barcelona-based producer has stayed enigmatic, he is pushing his way to the forefront of techno with his new hard-hitting live sets, his up-and-coming record imprint, and his recognisable signature style of production. Successfully treading the fine line between floating, emotional ambience and attention-grabbing techno beats is a tall order for most, but Degray treads it perfectly, resulting in a release that is as unavoidably compelling as it is thoughtful.
‘The Fall’ opens this EP for us, delivering grinding and distorted beats straight off the bat that rise and fall over the course of the track, along with hi-hats and claps which, along with Degray’s bouncy but pensive melody, let a chink of light into this otherwise dark and intense number. Other notes start to chime in as well, allowing a twinkly edge into the tune which flows perfectly over the increasingly driven and decisive percussion, leading this steady track to become ever more densely layered. The subsequent title track ‘End Paradox’ begins with a peaceful but foreboding field samples, whose crackling, rustling notes shoot suddenly into a momentous four-four beat and huge enveloping stabs of cinematic synths. The melody that takes over on top communicates a mysterious sense of urgency without becoming too insistent or aggressive, creating a bleak and eerie atmosphere with the repeated choral samples. As the track reaches a climactic point, melancholic notes lead us into a captivating, shuffling rhythm, before finishing once more with the oppressive beats and enveloping stabs of sound.
We are then grabbed by the scruff of the neck by ‘Aegis’ and whisked along on an unstoppable wild ride. We begin the track surrounded by a powerful wall of sound, from which emerges a simple but powerful riff that then prompts the beats to enter the fray too, giving an instant impression of how unrelenting this track is. Lighter notes dance over the top, slowly building on top of each other to encompass everything before launching back down into the propulsive beat. Although this track is hard, it remains melancholic, delivering a considerable emotional pull with celestial vibes towards the end. ‘Fade Out’ brings the EP to a close, delivering a subtle melody that climbs up and down the scales, backed up by foreboding clouds of noise that surround us with an unquestionable potential for energy. This leads straight into a conclusive vocal section, telling us before it fades into a gently ricocheting ambient melody that “the artist doesn’t want to cease to move people”, and this comes across in a genuine way in this EP, where sounds and textures are endlessly original in conception, blending enthralling rhythms and real emotion into a hugely impactful release.