Shirtless – Empty Powers on Standards & Practices

Dark and deliberate, “Empty Powers” sees Shirtless deliver 10 tracks of peak-hour electronica via Standards & Practices. Spanning 92–161 BPM across its 10 tracks, this release gives DJs flexible tempo options for different set moments.

Empty Powers – Electronica at 92–161 BPM

Empty Powers – Official Music Video

Behind the Electronica : Release Notes

Via Boomkat.com: Chicago & NYCs incandescent industrial heritage scalds to touch on a mighty debut album by Shirtless, a new trio helmed by Jonathan Krohn (Stave, Talker) and voiced by Pissed Jeans Matt Korvette & poet Alina Pleskova, essential listening for all and any disciples of Pan Sonic x Alan Vegas VVV, Big Black, Regis, Karim Maas. Downwards are not fucking about with Empty Powers, a brutal debut statement of intent wrought from barbed power electronics and fessing bleak internal monologues on the state of modern America. Working within ascetic limitations key to Regiss label, the trio resonate a dense inner city angst transcending sounds associated with the 80s emanations of Steve Albinis Electrical Audio in the Chi, the 90s NYC meetings of Pan Sonic & Suicides Alan Vega, and the contemporary Brum prowl of Karl OConnor and his squad of wrong uns, offset with a darkly sexy sidespin and taste for theeeeee saltiest distortion they can call their own. Far from Krohns first Downwards rodeo – hes made numerous jags as Male, Talker, and Stave over the past decade – its arguably his best, detectably kneading inspiration from a line of work for Bristol D&B mutant Karim Maas (UVB-76) into a slew of pendulous, pugilist, and ruff hewn swag that should get moodier buggers licking their lips. Held in balance with a fierce feel for air-shuddering industrial texture and discord, the results speak in a mix of direct urges and more oblique code thats best understood when felt with requisite amplification – and trust it can go all the way up without fatigue. In their lurching procession from the drunken slug and pebbledash sleet of Empty Powers to a beat-less, bittersweet tonal hymn Wave Logic, Korvette brings a taut industrial discipline throughout, at best on the squashed half step of Sit on the Flag like some lost Neubauten x Burial ace, and cooking thru the white-out blizzard Paper Body, Crumpled, or properly giving it some on Standing Under the Pinata, with Alina Pleskova an ideal counterpoint in the restive shudder of a Loose Grip (Eclipse Season) edging on shoegaze bliss-out, or sharing Factory Floor-esque warehouse space in Void Avoidant. Vinyl Release by Downwards Records, 2025 Jonathan Krohn, Electronics Matt Korvette, Vocals Alina Pleskova, Additional Vocals on 4, 6, 7, 9 Recorded and Mixed at 4053 Studio A, Chicago credits

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Tracks, BPM & Key

1. Shirtless – Empty Powers Original Mix

   Electronica | 96 BPM | E Minor | 4:13

2. Shirtless – Sit on the Flag Original Mix

   Electronica | 96 BPM | G Minor | 5:10

3. Shirtless – Paper Body, Crumpled Original Mix

   Electronica | 155 BPM | F Major | 4:00

4. Shirtless – Lose Yourself Original Mix

   Electronica | 92 BPM | D Major | 4:20

5. Shirtless – Bare Original Mix

   Electronica | 141 BPM | D Minor | 0:52

6. Shirtless – Loose Grip (Eclipse Season) Original Mix

   Electronica | 161 BPM | B Minor | 3:48

7. Shirtless – Dragging Original Mix

   Electronica | 99 BPM | C Major | 3:50

8. Shirtless – Standing Underneath the Piñata Original Mix

   Electronica | 125 BPM | Gb Minor | 4:13

9. Shirtless – Void Avoidant Original Mix

   Electronica | 124 BPM | G Minor | 3:49

10. Shirtless – Wave Logic Original Mix

    Electronica | 120 BPM | E Minor | 3:14