Innerspace Halflife

Innerspace Halflife is the nom de plume of Chicago’s Ike Release and Hakim Murphy, names you may have seen side by side earlier this year on the Subsequent EP from Ike’s Episodes imprint. Going beyond remix duties this time, Hakim and Ike have collaborated with results as impressive for their virility as their complexity. Cosmology begins with ‘Fodder’, an 11 minute beat down session that delivers on its name: commendably restrained and subtle food for the dance floor. A hardy low end chugs through the entire release, something Ike may have carried along from his earlier bass focused productions. ‘Stratosphere’ is the standout for me. Again, it puts the sub to work. Sound guys be nervous. Take care with this one. Closing with ‘Grey Matter’, the EP follows through on its consistent, deliberate strength. This final act pays homage to the “house that jack built”, while perpetually pushing forward into unknown zones of aural experience. Quality is synonymous with both Hakim Murphy’s Machining Dreams imprint and his production. This release validates those same expectations for Ike Release. If he wasn’t on your radar before, check your instruments.