Initially an anonymous project which was later revealed to be an alias of Munich's Bryan Müller (aka
SCNTST),
Skee Mask became the breakout star of
the Zenker Brothers' Ilian Tape label following a series of widely touted releases which ranged from dub techno to atmospheric breakbeat. Second
Skee Mask full-length
Compro appeared in 2018, and immediately received praise as one of the best dance albums of the year. Less club-ready than earlier releases,
Compro is an immersive home listening experience which draws from IDM, ambient techno, and jungle. The tracks can feel as stark and chilly as the album's blizzard-bound cover art, but Müller's melodic sense imbues his work with warmth and humanity. After a few opening tracks which bring to mind the downtempo glitch of
Arovane,
Compro hits its stride with the gorgeous "50 Euro to Break Boost." Driven by the type of shuffling, distorted breaks that had become
Skee Mask's calling card, and combined with forlorn, downtuned melodies and sparsely applied echo effects, the track feels like an extended solo train trip through the wintry countryside. "Soundboy Ext." is even more devastating, with frantically chopped-up jungle breaks and a heightened sense of drama. "Dial 274" is the most club-tuned track, with steady, strong breakbeats and slightly teasing bits of rave synths toward the end. "Flyby VFR" recalls '90s ambient jungle producers like
Wax Doctor, blending intricate broken beats with immensely lush synth washes. Drums and rhythmic explorations remain the focus of
Skee Mask's work, but
Compro provides much more room for reflection, and is the producer's most affecting work to date. ~ Paul Simpson