For those who don’t know, Manchester have an exciting and rapidly evolving and growing electronic and hip-hop scene. Space Afrika, Blackhaine and Rainy Miller are a few examples of artists that are making a mark with their varied and dynamic production. Iceboy Violet is well in that conversation, especially after their masterful 2022 mixtape The Vanity Project. Not a Dream But a Controlled Explosion is their new body of work, capturing an equally as gripping and urgent as any of their previous projects.

The 8-track EP is 17 minutes in length, yet feels like it makes it statement without overstaying it welcome. Iceboy Violet produced the whole project. Kicking off with the short and atmospheric “Not a Dream (Intro)”, the EP sparks to life on “Street Dogs Have Wings”. The menacing 808s and bass-heavy beat is high in tempo and energy, while Iceboy Violet flows over the track effortlessly, with dystopian abstract lyricism. The beat switch near the end of the track is incredible too. The dark and atmospheric “Black Gold” featuring Florence Sinclair is exceptional too, speaking on dealing with demons and the shit around us over a stripped-back, drumless instrumental. “Wounded Coogi” is a sombre track, with a skeletal, cold and minimalist beat, as they talk about their struggles, while Iceboy Violet’s delivery on “Refracted” is an emotional cry out for help. The tribal energy on “Ekklipse” is almost hypnotic, while their low-registered delivery sounds menacing. “Paris, Bradford” has this ambient soundtrack, and its transition into the closer “Pablo’s Cathedral” is incredible too. The track bursts into life with some intense drumming, complemented by an atmospheric synth and Iceboy Violet’s incredible, energetic delivery. They are so good at balancing the dynamic and urgent with the delicate and atmospheric, with their voice being the central voice that brings and converges these two energies together. It’s an entrancing body of work and one that further cements their legacy among the new legends of Manchester’s music scene.

Not a Dream But a Controlled Explosion is an exceptional body of work. Listen to / buy it below via Bandcamp.