The Return to Analog Origins
Veteran Madrid-based producer and DJ Iván Smoka has unveiled his latest record, titled 'Echoes Of The Black Cats'. This release, published through the label Last Cat On Earth, represents a deep dive into the artist's sound archives. The collection consists of two unreleased tracks that were conceived between 2010 and 2012, a fundamental creative stage that preceded the official formation of his acclaimed analog electronic and indie dance project, Gatos Negros.
For this installment, Smoka teams up again with Christian C., his regular studio partner and co-founder of the aforementioned band. The release is now available on major digital platforms, standing out for its organic approach, where basslines, live guitar performances, and psychedelic textures intertwine with hypnotic electronic elements of a distinct clubbing character.
Anatomy of 'Echoes Of The Black Cats'
The EP is composed of two main cuts that encapsulate the rawness of the original studio sessions. The first track, "Washing Machine", is a joint work between Iván Smoka and Christian C. that distills a dark and immersive atmosphere. The second cut adds the participation of producer Uko Jay, raising the intensity of the sonic journey toward almost cinematic terrain. In both productions, Christian C.'s contribution is decisive, incorporating analog performances that grant an unusual warmth to the inherent coldness of techno and deep house.
- Iván Smoka, Christian C. – Washing Machine
- Iván Smoka, Christian C., Uko Jay – Todestag (Gato Negro Mix)
The label Last Cat On Earth, a platform co-directed by Iván Smoka himself alongside producer Thaddeus X, has been in charge of meticulously rescuing and remastering these tapes after more than a decade in oblivion. The Madrid-based label thus continues its mission of releasing electronic music with a strong narrative component, moving away from the ephemeral trends of the current industry.
The Madrid Heritage and the Gatos Negros Project
To understand the magnitude of this release, it is imperative to go back to the context of the Madrid electronic scene at the beginning of the last decade. Iván Smoka, a key figure in the capital's DJ booths under various aliases like Disco Felino, joined forces with Christian C. around 2013 to found Gatos Negros. The group, which would later include other artists from the circuit such as Rock Serling and Álvaro Cabana, was characterized by fusing dancefloor electronics with psychedelic rock, post-punk, and krautrock.
During those years of intensive experimentation in the studio, Smoka and Christian C. recorded a multitude of sessions that would crystallize into critically acclaimed albums like '7th Life' or the subsequent 'Hi-Score'. However, the original demos produced between 2010 and 2012 remained hidden on hard drives. 'Echoes Of The Black Cats' functions, therefore, as the missing link that documents the transition of two club DJs toward the consolidation of an avant-garde electronic band.
The Value of the Archive in Contemporary Electronics
The decision to dust off and publish material that is fourteen years old underscores a growing trend in the global scene: the revaluation of musical timelessness against the immediacy of the algorithm. In an ecosystem saturated by weekly releases designed for quick consumption, works like 'Echoes Of The Black Cats' demonstrate that authentic groove does not expire. The careful remastering carried out by Last Cat On Earth respects the saturation of the original recordings, offering listeners a direct window into a golden age of analog production in Spain.
Two deep, dark, and immersive productions where basslines, guitars, and psychedelic textures mix with hypnotic electronic elements full of character.
— Last Cat On Earth
