Premiere: Ziyiz ‘Asemia’

early reflex will mark its fourth anniversary next week with the release of a new compilation, ‘Flex005’. Have an exclusive first listen to Ziyiz’s contribution, ‘Asemia’, below.

Commemorating another year at the bleeding edge of the techno and experimental club circuit, the Turin-based imprint delivers the fourth instalment of their coveted annual VA compilation. Across twelve head-turning cuts, label head Alec Pace enlists a cast of sparky newcomers and roster mainstays from Leeds, Detroit, Cairo, Turin, and beyond, united by a shared passion for moving bodies whilst breaking the mould.

“We’re thrilled to celebrate our fourth anniversary with the release of ‘Flex005’,” says Alec Pace, founder of early reflex. “This compilation embodies the spirit of exploration and experimentation that has defined our label since day one. It’s a testament to the incredible talent and diversity within the electronic music community.”

Pace himself lights the fuse with the dizzying opener ‘Fingernail’, crafted from his mutant grab bag of freewheeling rhythms and hyperkinetic drums, ahead of mutant club weapons from the likes of No Sir, Small Crab and ZULI. Elsewhere across the release, New York-via-Berlin based duo Sha Ru serve up raucous rave energy on the aptly titled ‘Pressure Push’, and Leeds producer Ziyiz coelesces strands of post-dubstep, sci-fi-tuned techno and beyond on his latest head-twisting concoction, ‘Asemia’.

Speaking on his contribution, Ziyiz told DJ Mag: “I wrote Asemia after walking in the SimuSylvan forest, a Silicon Ant stung me, leaving me symbol-blind, senseless and drunk. I fell and inadvertently crushed it. When I woke I realised I had recorded the dying wail of the Ant. It sounded pretty legit so I sent it to Early Reflex, who are excellent colleagues to share with, they embrace the unconventional.”

‘Flex005’ is out 21st June via Early Reflex. Pre-order the compilation here, and have an exclusive first listen to Ziyiz’s contribution, ‘Asemia’, below.

Ziyiz made his solo debut in late 2022 with a four-track EP on Brooklyn’s Kindergarten Records. The ‘Pattern Factory’ EP – from which DJ Mag premiered the track ‘Sprung Skeleton’ – introduced the world to his roughly-hewn rave sonics that pluck influences from across British electronic music history, infused with his own devilish, futuristic twist.

Earlier this year, Alec Pace returned from a two-year hiatus with a new EP, ‘Spherae’, on the Mexico City-based label Infinite Machine.