PREMIERE: Nicolas Bougaïeff - Funktion [NovaMute]
Berlin-based Nicolas Bougaïeff follows up February’s ‘Primal Extensions’ EP with ‘Prime Funktion’, the second instalment of his ‘Prime’ EP series on NovaMute. Expanding on his ongoing exploration of prime rhythms and polytemporality, Bougaïeff continues to push the boundaries of techno with intricate rhythmic frameworks and hypnotic, high-intensity club cuts.
He kicks off this latest offering with ‘Prime’, a bleeping, twisted, and trippy late-night techno cut built around a quintuplet groove and 7:6 synth structures. The fantastic ‘Funktion’ is another potent, menacing track, where a shadowy synth loop repeats over hefty kicks in a dystopian fashion, driven by prime rhythmic divisions that create tension and unpredictability. ‘Nucleus’ is a hypnotic piece rolling on thudding kicks, with tumbling percussive lines dancing over the drums while its rational intonation scale, tuned around the 17th harmonic, brings a microtonal depth to the melodies. Last but not least, ‘Womb’ contrasts ever-evolving melodic patterns ringing down over lurching drums and unresolved loops, creating a dynamic interplay between chaos and calm. The artwork mirrors the EP’s approach, visualising prime rhythms as layered circular structures, where individual patterns remain independent yet momentarily align—capturing the tension between freedom and synchronisation that defines the Prime series.
Nicolas Bougaïeff’s ‘Prime Funktion’ once again showcases his unmatched mastery of polyrhythm, with the EP already receiving early support from Charlotte De Witte, Dubfire, Boris, Laurent Garnier, and Elisa Bee.
Drawing from his PhD in minimal techno and decades of experience, Bougaïeff continues his quest to expand the rhythmic possibilities of electronic music. The Prime series introduces listeners to prime rhythms—polyrhythms derived from prime number ratios that challenge traditional binary subdivisions—alongside his pivot mixing techniques, which allow seamless tempo integration. This explores what Bougaïeff calls 'temporal liberation'—where intricate rhythms both literally break the constraints of traditional techno and serve as a symbolic metaphor for broader notions of personal, social, and metaphysical freedom.
Beyond his releases on labels such as Mute and NovaMute, Bougaïeff co-founded Liine, creators of the Lemur music app—famously used aboard the International Space Station. He founded the Berlin Academy of Electronic Music and reaches a global audience through his online tutorials, where he explains innovative production techniques. His videos on pivot mixing have gained notable recognition among industry peers.
Prime Funktion releases on NovaMute on 7 May 2025.
Support the release: https://nicolasbougaieff.bandcamp.com/album/primal-extensions
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