Tobias. - Helium Sessions (2016)

Given his usual productivity and regular release schedule, it's something of a surprise to find that Helium Sessions is Tobias Freund's first solo single for two years. Typically, the Ostgut Ton man is in a bleak mood, expertly fusing dense, high-octane drums, horror-influenced electronics, creepy textures and paranoid field recordings on superb opener "LAGEOS 1". "Helios" increases the tempo further via seemingly sped-up drum patterns and grandiose, room-filling chords, while closer "Spectrum V" throws a little industrial attitude into the mix - alongside skittish, pitched-downm jungle-style breakbeats - to complete the paranoid, dystopian mood. This latter track is particularly bold, suggesting that Freund has found his voice again after a period away from the limelight.