There is a special type of releases that require only one thing from the listener to stop and be in the moment. This is exactly the kind of release that Blood Tape EP by ShiShi belongs to. Five tracks filled with concept and meaning, capable of turning your worldview upside down. You know, the thing is that the world has gotten used to music as a background for everything that surrounds it in everyday life. Music for rest, music for concentration. And it is exactly this understanding that makes Blood Tape EP by ShiShi such a sharp switch. ShiShi builds a space in which the background stops existing, you know? It simply doesn’t exist. The entire Blood Tape EP is a space where you need to be completely, without remainder or indulgence. The EP pulls you inside and holds you there for all the time of its sound.

Twenty minutes. That’s how long Blood Tape EP lasts. It’s the time during which a dark electronic lo-fi story unfolds, and it feels like a short film somewhere beyond the planet. I like how ShiShi works with this duration of five tracks, there’s a sense of space inside the EP that’s much larger than its runtime. And I think it’s because every layer here carries a function. The air in the mix, the soft transitions, the dynamics of energy and tone. All this creates a very interesting flow and a very cool wave of electronic sound.’

This is where the philosophy of ShiShi’s sound begins. Within limitations, he searches for freedom and paths of self-expression. He tests how sound can transform within constraints, how structure creates meaning, not the other way around. This curious observation finds its reflection in a track like ‘Intro’. You will notice how the melody changes, how the very structure of the track creates meaning and fills the mind with curious ideas and images.

I like how the track ‘Blood Tape’, with a duration of 5 minutes and 13 seconds, completely changes the atmosphere created by ‘Intro’. It’s a deep, heavy mix with dark tones and many textures. The vocal balances between commercial pop sound and endless regret. It sounds very cool and incredibly confident. There is quite a lot of synthesizer work in Blood Tape EP, painted in completely different colors. Layered and cinematic, they work like lighting in a frame. You know, when the picture is perfect, you don’t understand why, but once you change the color correction – everything is lost. ShiShi maintains this balance steadily throughout the entire EP. Cinematic quality here is an integral part.

I like how in ‘Doomnight’ the melody breaks and turns into a dark chaos of sound with overloaded textures. Pads slowly distort the structure while the vocals support this sonic flow. You know, such a cool atmosphere truly grabs you and gives the impression of powerful, incredibly strong meaning. Just close your eyes and let the world of ShiShi completely capture you! You know, with a touch of psychedelia, ‘Doomnight’ becomes a turning point in the EP.
Then ‘Rocket Ship to Hell’ sounds like a state of inner tension. It’s about boundless possibilities and also about being lost in this ocean, when desire turns into apathy. What I like about ‘Rocket Ship to Hell’ is that the hazy electronic pads resemble whirlwinds that change the track’s structure. Here ShiShi works at the intersection of opposites, with a full understanding of the mechanics: darkness is needed precisely so that the rhythm feels sharper, and melancholy serves to keep the track’s center of gravity. Incredibly stylish electronics!

I was completely hooked by ‘Storm Clouds Gather’, a track with its almost ritual gloom. You know, it’s that very moment when it already seems that there is no way out, but you still keep looking for it. The commercial vocal is absolutely gripping, and the commercial vocal of strong dark dark pop sound makes you look at the EP in a new way. Twenty minutes built with the understanding that good music lives in details. ShiShi has this confidence from the first second to the final track. Blood Tape EP leaves us wanting more, and that’s exactly the feeling good short formats leave behind. ShiShi builds a world and then closes the door before you have time to fully live in it, and you have to listen to the release again on repeat. And you know, that’s exactly the feeling you expect from truly good music. Be sure to add your favorite tracks from Blood Tape EP to your playlist and follow ShiShi so you don’t miss even more cool music.

Hey ShiShi! Thank you for releasing such interesting electronic music. I really love your format and style – darkness, commercial sound, a bit of psychedelia, and lo-fi vibes. It’s cosmic, but with a special sound. I truly disconnected from reality while listening to your release, and it was so cool. I’ll definitely show your release to everyone so they can also listen to such great sound. I love it and want more, yeah!

• Instagram
• YouTube