Kai Whiston, “Rubens”

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At just 17, an age where most young producers are still trying to figure out how to count bars while making crummy “(insert famous producer) type beats,” British producer Kai Whiston is already locked in and focused on pushing the boundaries of electronic music. His 4-track Houndstooth project is a vaunted, admirably adventurous work, and he’s been plenty busy throughout 2016.

He released “Rubens,” his latest track yesterday. The 4-minute composition sounds like the score to walking through a post-civilization metropolis, with rubble and emissions clouding the horizon. His jarring, cinematic beat roars through the beginning, with atmospheric howling and dissonant texture abound.

Midway through “Rubens”, a clicking sound and other sound effects shine through the soundscape, with frantic drums seemingly gasping for space. The track then revels in the abyss. Whiston has a gift for cavernous, haunting composition, and “Rubens” is a strong instance of just that.

You can listen to “Rubens” below.

https://soundcloud.com/kaiwhiston/rubens