Step into the shadows. Prognostiq’s Basement Room doesn’t play in the dark because it lives there, a claustrophobic, bass-heavy labyrinth where every click, shuffle, and reverberation is physical. The opener drops you straight into a shuffling IDM groove, deep pads rumbling beneath, echoes bouncing off rough stone-hewn basement walls. A simple, airy melody drifts across the chaos, letting the sound stretch wide and fall hard, like air leaving a sealed chamber.
Consistency doesn’t bore here; it grinds. “Smoke” doubles down, thickening the low end, mirroring the rhythmic pulse of its predecessor, but with just enough variation to keep your attention hooked. These aren’t tracks to skim through. They demand presence, patience, a willingness to let the bass invade your chest as the drums keep slicing through the shadow.
Then “Echo” arrives, and the mood shifts without losing its spine. Collaborating with Otkat and Skoliks, Prognostiq layers playful arps and plinking synths over the deep, wobbly sub-bass foundation. It’s lighter, more mournful, even woozy, but still tense, still crawling through the darkness. This is where the EP flirts with levity but doesn’t let go of its subterranean identity.
Closing with “Phobia,” the EP tightens like a fist. Tense textures open the track, whispered vocal samples, a creeping sense of unease that bleeds into flowing pads that bring blessed light. And then, at the end, a ringing note cuts through, signaling release, a small exhale after the underground storm.
Weirdrum Records deserves a nod here. Based in a tiny Russian village, the label has been quietly carving out a domestic IDM and bass scene that thrives on precision, experimentation, and the guts to let artists like Prognostiq explore the shadows fully. Their ear for dark, immersive soundscapes is evident: this EP is a perfect example of what the label does best.
Basement Room is a tactile experience. The bass hits like gravity, the textures scrape and hover, the spatial design pulls you into corners and shadows. There’s danger in these walls, but not malice — just the thrill of exploring a space built entirely from sound. Prognostiq proves again that dark, atmospheric IDM can be precise, immersive, and dangerous without ever being gratuitous. And Weirdrum Records? They’re the ones letting it happen.
Basement Room by Prognostiq was released 8 August, 2025 on Weirdrum Records
Cool music!