The Ladder - Charade

In 2006 Addz Vindicare started a solo project called The Ladder. Add this to his psytrance project Vindicare, live guitar and Kitara for Grendel and resident DJ of Analogue Trash then you have a fair idea of where his musical passions lie.

The Ladder live is a three piece with producer/vocalist Danny Dellamorte (vocals), Katrina Angst (synths) and of course Addz himself (Synth/Production) and has over the last 4-5 years played with the likes of Dope Stars Inc., The Crüxshadows, Tyske Ludder, Cybercide, Combichrist, Uberbyte as well as their own gigs, in and around the UK.

Yesterday (13/10/13) came the message from Addz, "Well here it is, finally! ", and so we have the debut E.P. 'Charade'. Six tracks featuring four originals and two remixes running at just under 30 minutes.

The E.P starts with "Requital". At 136 BPM and just over the five minute mark, the track starts as a fairly basic trance track and then within the first minute, you have some truly lifting strings backed with D&B/Jungle beats phased through and then bang we are into the chorus then bang into the mini break. The vocals sit well and nothing sounds out of place.

The title track follows at 135 BPM and just under five minutes long. Again there is the classic trance style of the track with builds, breaks and quiet bits but it doesn't feel familiar or tired. There is enough to make you realise this could very well be a trance track but the vocals and the sounds used make it feel something different.

My favorite track is next. "Enabler" is under 4 minutes and 138 BPM and is far too short. "Enabler" to my mind is the standout track on this E.P. Everything seems to fit so very well. Vocals, stabs, rises, strings, pads, drum rolls and so on. I would love to hear an extended version of this. Not remixed but extend the original. To me this track is the anthem of the E.P albeit the shortest.

"Clockwork" is the fourth track and is such a close second for my favorite track that at any given moment this would be it. The intro has an almost Kraftwerk feel to it (think Kometenmelodie 1 with sequencer runs through it) until big kick/crash drum pastes your ears, distorted somethings, bouncy bass, quick sample, snare roll and we get into 140 BPM basslines with vocals that remind me of Black Sun Empire's early work. Again the vocals fill the track well and nothing feels out of place. This is my favorite song. Possibly.

The fifth track is the Ghost Loop remix of "Charade". The remix loses the punchy basslines and adds sweeps and strings with a D&B/jungle style percussion underneath it. This remix has a BIG feel to it. Enveloping in atmosphere and sound with the vocals just underneath. Its far enough enough away from the original while keeping the intent of the original. Beautiful track

And to round the E.P. off is the Monomorte remix of "Requital". Monomorte give "Requital" a serious workout. The result is quite special. Noises, distortion and corrupted vocals make this dark and broody and truly another song rather than a cut and paste, "make this bit longer and no one will know" remix.

'The Ladder' have made a great E.P. Trance based with a variation of structures and sounds and noises to not be completely trance. I look forward eagerly to the next release. Assuming we don't have to wait another six years it! Oct 14 2013