Erich Fromm‘s “Escape from Freedom” was published 83 years ago. His assumption was that modern man, having freed himself from the shackles of the old days and living freely, longs to return to the totalitarian, destructive and conformist world. In 2024, the pluralistic and individualized way of life of the so-called West seems self-evident. Boundless freedom is suggested – but we continue to flee. Utopias are crumbling and conservatism is experiencing a renaissance. At the same time, the freedom to decide “to be able to stay” in contrast to “having to leave” currently seems to represent a high value.
This EP by the two producers from Germany and Ukraine, was created in this field of tension. David Heine and Konstantin Kost were already working together on the current AMAS project (Odessa EP). „Freedom From Escape“ adapts the former title of Erich Fromm‘s central work, which is given a prominent role on this record. Music and techno are freedom and escape at the same time: transcendence and escapism. In interaction and contradiction at the same time.
David Heine – Konstantin Kost
On the A-side, the two protagonists create a world of minimalist dub techno, which also has melodic, flat side strands in its narratives. The more than 60-year-old fragments from TV interviews with Erich Fromm on the subject of freedom, decisions, constructivism and destruction are presented so densely and rustlingly that you don‘t feel compelled to follow the lecture. Instead, the spoken word corresponds with the minimalist framework of the two pieces. The old audio recordings are embedded as part of the composition. Some of it may be understood and arouse the listener‘s curiosity, but again and again you get lost in the repetitive swamp of sound, so that you may understand more of the text each time you listen to it without it imposing itself on you.
Check Out: Choices (Original Mix)
The two remixes of the first track take a different approach. Save Your Atoll specifically frames and limits the spoken word in its interpretation and embarks on a hypnotic journey that is less worldly and more futuristic. Anna Kost goes one step further by literally suffocating the old man‘s spoken word, as if the destructive drum patterns were trying to shut him up.
Save Your Atoll – Anna Kost
Verdict: A beautiful collection, comprising of two solid minimalist dub techno originals plus two wonderful re-imaginings of the opening track. A perfect two sider with the originals having a minimal stripped back edge, while the remixes go for the more deep layered approach.Top production throughout with all artists bringing their ‘A’ game. Whether intentional or not, as the EP progresses it gets deeper and fuller which behaves like a narrative, a journey which takes you from the beginning to the end. Track it down.
OUT NOW: Vinyl: Limited edition of 200 – Digital on all common portals.
Vinyl https://www.decks.de/track/david_heine_x_konstantin_kost-freedom_from_escape/cn6-cc
Beatport: https://www.beatport.com/release/freedom-from-escape/4670943
Spotify active on release day: https://open.spotify.com/album/55C428IY4Lf0pKlD5sQHk9
The cover picture was taken on 25 July 1909, when Louis Blériot became the first person to cross the English Channel in an aeroplane with the Blériot XI, which he had designed himself. The reversal of the title and the idea for the cover artwork came about during a conversation with the artist Jennifer Mattes in Vienna.
