Phantom Eels by Black Art Circus

Phantom Eels EP is the second installment from Specimen records, which is inspired by Jules Verne and the idea of a transcendent species, which represents manifestations from the unconscious as a magical force. A surreal adventure into the depths of the unknown; Phantom Eels takes us on an abyssal journey conjured by electronic soundscapes and dream worlds, formulated into rhythmic excursions, rendered in a fusion of electronic music styles from tech house, techno, electro, and dub.
This is the second project by Eugene Black, AKA Black Art Circus and kicks off with a punchy acid-infused tech-house mix of the title track Phantom Eels. Jelli Mix, (track 5) is more of a funk-driven melodic techno excursion with shuddering filters, organ stabs and keys, with a lush rhythmic bass dropping in and out of the mix. Electric Eel is a slow dub version of the title track as a final track to the EP. This mix has more of an ethereal feel drifting through ebbs and flows of reverberations and underwater currents; it makes for an early morning sleep inducer.
Back on board, we have the divine God Of The Machine... one of Detroit’s finest Derrick Thompson with a remix. A dense melodic Detroit pounder mixed with acidic motion, pristine stabs and splashes that move in and out of a series of drum-driven dives and textures, which can only be measured in fathoms.
Hijacker follows this up with more of an industrial feel with Jelly & Mashup another remix of the title track. Hijacker explores more of a visual techno soundtrack, such as predator eel down on a mysterious shipwreck moving in and out of dark waters and hidden compartments. There is a sense of deep-sea pressure in the movement, which retains a perfect sense of industrial motion, dub and even a melancholic sense of a lone searcher.
Jonra & eMachinery, two established musical technicians from out of Los Angeles, specializing in electronic-electro styled analog composition. Their sound is both unique and refined form of funky techno. Here they deliver just that with Humpback Eels, a remix of the title track. Infused with a repetitive vocal over high-powered driving baselines and solid drum patterns that retain a dubby feel with a mix of textures and acid key-lines that gives this EP a very special edge altogether.
Nils Hess is at the helm with Phantom Gulper the final remix on the EP, this is a lush deep and oceanic excursion of Phantom Eels. A melodic techno soundtrack, that continually builds from filtered arpeggios and stabs into a monumental underwater flight. This mix just leaves the listener in want of further aquatic discovery that pivots on the sensitivity of imagination.

Paul Rip conceived Specimen Records 2012, devising projects under the production name of Eugene Black / Black Art Circus. Prior to this Paul co-owned and managed Plink Plonk Records during the ’90s. Now Specimen explores genres of Deep Techno, Techno-dub and Electro from 2020. Now in 2025, some new artists are expected!