HENGE’s new single, Slingshot/Hypersleep, is an insistent slice of some sort of spacey/synth/prog that blends juicy electronic textures with eccentric, cosmic vibes. Packed with oscillating synths, spidery lines that extend and retract at will, and layers of gluey bass, it’s a track that pushes the boundaries of pop. Vocals alternate between insistent melodic lines and vocoder-altered dreaminess, as the track veers unpredictably between tempos, forms, and moods. It’s cosmic, weird, and utterly wonderful.
As bandleader Zpor explains:
“When setting out on long voyages into the depths of space, I am always on the lookout for an extra bit of thrust where I can find it. As we begin our journey from Earth to the distant planet of Voltus B, we can pick up additional speed by harnessing the gravitational pull of the Solar System’s outer planets—a technique known as a slingshot manoeuvre. With the planets soon to align perfectly for our mission, we invite you to join us on this exhilarating slingshot tour of the outer solar system. Trust me, the views of Jupiter and Saturn will be nothing short of spectacular.”
As can maybe be deduced from the title, the track splits into two main sections – “Slingshot” is a high-energy exchange between Zpor and the ship’s computer, while the “Hypersleep” segment shifts into a psychedelic space lullaby, pulling listeners into a hypnotic drift. It’s a preview of their forthcoming album, Journey to Voltus B, out January 31, and a reminder of why HENGE remain some of the most original space-ravers in the galaxy.
The band also released an animated video accompanying the single, with a stunning self-produced “Slingshot” sequence and a dreamy, whacked-out “Hypersleep” segment directed by Antony Barkworth-Knight.
Catch HENGE live on their extensive UK tour starting this month for an unmissable interplanetary experience.
