RETROSPECTIVE VOL. 2 is out now on YouTube: a 45-minute continuous Dub Techno mix featuring six original tracks entirely written, produced and mixed by NIORIC.
Moving from deep, cinematic atmospheres to increasingly hypnotic and driving rhythms, this second chapter offers a focused exploration of the project’s most recent musical developments.
Following the release of the first Retrospective, a two-hour journey through a much broader selection of original productions, Vol. 2 takes a different approach. Rather than looking back over an extended period, it captures a more specific moment in NIORIC’s artistic evolution, bringing together music created during the last few months.
From Retrospective Vol. 1 to Vol. 2
The original Retrospective was conceived as an extensive overview of NIORIC’s dub techno productions, collecting tracks written and released over approximately eleven months.
With a running time of almost two hours and more than twenty original compositions, the first mix explored a wide spectrum of sounds, from deep dub chords and ambient textures to minimal grooves, atmospheric techno and cinematic electronic soundscapes.
It was designed as a long-form listening experience, allowing individual productions to become part of a larger, continuous musical narrative.
The response was particularly encouraging.
With more than 9,000 views on YouTube, the first Retrospective became one of the most successful releases on the NIORIC channel, introducing the project to new listeners and establishing the series as a dedicated space for extended mixes made exclusively from original music.
While the first volume offered a broad retrospective of nearly a year of production, RETROSPECTIVE VOL. 2 focuses on a shorter and more recent creative period.
The difference is not simply one of duration. The new mix is more concentrated, with six compositions arranged to create a clearly defined progression in tempo, rhythmic complexity and energy.
Six Original Productions, One Continuous Journey
RETROSPECTIVE VOL. 2 features six tracks, all written and produced by NIORIC:
- Last Signal from Vardø — Longform Series
- Zero Altitude — Longform Series
- The Colosseum — Released on Superordinate Dub Waves, Monte Cristo Chronicles Pt. 3 – Revenge
- Even Closer
- Sublevel
- Undetected Massive Object
The selection brings together different aspects of NIORIC’s recent production work, including both compositions from the Longform Series, a parallel project dedicated to extended, immersive electronic music.
Last Signal from Vardø draws inspiration from remote northern landscapes, distant radio transmissions and the sense of isolation associated with the Arctic environment.
Its spacious arrangements and atmospheric textures establish the opening mood of the mix.
Zero Altitude continues the exploration of extended sound design, where subtle rhythmic structures, deep frequencies and evolving textures become central elements of the listening experience.
The journey also includes The Colosseum, released through the dub techno label Superordinate Dub Waves as part of the compilation Monte Cristo Chronicles Pt. 3 – Revenge, connecting this new Retrospective chapter with NIORIC’s presence on independent electronic music labels.
The remaining tracks — Even Closer, Sublevel and Undetected Massive Object — progressively introduce stronger rhythmic elements, guiding the mix towards a more driving and hypnotic conclusion.
A Gradual Evolution in BPM, Rhythm and Energy
One of the defining characteristics of RETROSPECTIVE VOL. 2 is its deliberate musical progression.
Rather than maintaining a constant tempo or intensity throughout the entire session, the mix develops gradually, moving from slower, atmospheric compositions towards increasingly structured and energetic rhythms.
The opening sections emphasize space, depth and immersion: resonant dub chords, subtle percussion, distant textures and ambient soundscapes establish a restrained, contemplative atmosphere.
As the mix progresses, the BPM increases and the rhythmic structures become more pronounced. Percussion gains momentum, basslines become more persistent and hypnotic patterns begin to take a more prominent role.
This transition is intended to feel natural and continuous, preserving the atmospheric character of dub techno while progressively introducing the energy of deeper, more rhythm-driven electronic music.
The result is a journey that connects ambient dub techno, atmospheric dub techno, deep techno and hypnotic minimal electronic music within a single evolving narrative.
The Retrospective Series: An Ongoing Musical Archive
The concept behind Retrospective remains unchanged: every track featured in the series is an original NIORIC production.
There are no external artists, borrowed tracks or third-party selections. Each volume is built entirely from music created within the NIORIC project and subsequently arranged into a continuous DJ mix.
This approach gives the series a particular role within the project’s discography.
Individual releases represent specific ideas, atmospheres and creative experiments.
The Retrospective mixes bring those separate compositions together, revealing connections between tracks and highlighting how the sound evolves over time.
In this sense, the series is both a listening experience and an ongoing musical archive.
The first volume documented an extensive period of exploration and production.
The second offers a closer look at the most recent months, reflecting a developing interest in longer compositions, cinematic sound design and more pronounced rhythmic progression.
Future chapters will continue to follow this evolution, bringing together new original productions as the project develops.
Listen to Retrospective Vol. 2 on YouTube
With a duration of approximately 45 minutes, RETROSPECTIVE VOL. 2 is designed for immersive listening, whether through headphones, during late-night sessions or as a continuous soundtrack for moments of concentration and reflection.
For listeners discovering NIORIC for the first time, it offers an introduction to the project’s current atmospheric dub techno sound. For those already familiar with the first volume, it represents the next chapter in an ongoing creative journey.
RETROSPECTIVE VOL. 2 is available now on the official NIORIC YouTube channel.