tom feral drops new record ‘Rotten’

Coming out of Denver, tom feral is an enigmatic artist and producer making a wildly original electronic sound that’s experimental and engaging in equal measure. Since making his official artistic entrance in March 2023 with the debut single “freaks (we’re just happier),” he’s developed growing a catalogue across multiple singles and records, while linking up with the likes of Tyler Benderr, XOXOSTARGIRL and Thomas Klein for collaborative releases along the way.

His work channels the full sphere of electronic music while eschewing any one style or genre in particular, moving between contrasting moods, textures and rhythms to create a sound that’s at times playful and others impactful. His recent full-length album titled Rotten offers an uncompromising look at that creative identity he’s been crafting over the last three years and across nine tracks, tom feral brings together electro house, tech house, bass music, breakbeats and high-octane electronic production, leaning into the heavier, more intense and dancefloor-focused side of his sound.

By not following one consistent level of tone, the album moves through different sonic environments, creating a sense of momentum as intricate rhythmic passages give way to explosive drops, distorted synths and infectious grooves. “Intralude” gets thing started with the bubble of bleeping mechanical noises as the swell of buzzing texture gives way to a glitching electronic scene where the crisp punch and rattling synth elements form a driving rhythm of beat-focused electronic music before gliding through airy moments and intricate builds, offering a thrilling jam packed full of twists and turns.

“Flutterflies” pairs downtempo percussive shots with hazy vocal samples as rustling drums builds up the energy, taking the track into a moody drop where the flicker between fuzzy synth tones and flashes of bright melodies collide to deliver an epic showcase of tom feral’s creative flair and sound design panache. “Tommy Rocker” brings a more accessible beat of shuffling rhythms and woozy synth tones before launching drums crunchy flashes of guitar to craft a constantly shifting scene of disjointed sonic ideas that combine to create a thoroughly memorable listening experience stacked with spliced vocal chops, record scratches and contrasting instrumental elements.

With “Everybody,” the flutter of muted vocal elements rolls into a grooving soundscape where the spliced and pitched voice hover above lively instrumentation before jumping with wubbing synths, leaning into tom feral’s dub-inflected side, resulting in an enthralling sound unlike any other. “no sleepy” slows things down with the soft stutter of atonal instrumental textures while the ominous pulse of bass hovers in the background, taking listeners on an avant-garde voyage with moments of percussive energy and extended passages of leftfield exploration.

“Fidget Toy” starts with a vocal sample before hopping into a grooving club-focused outing that flows with steady four-to-the-floor beats as zapping synths injects pulsing energy to the track, offering an energising experimental dance cut. Intricate synth notes and soulful vocals introduce “Blame it on my DAMN” which progresses with shuffling percussion and hook-inflected leads before descending into a flurry of flashing synth layers and charging rhythms.

With “Camel Cowboy,” the bright plucks of organic notes and clapped rhythms forms an intriguing contrast that slips into a gripping soundscape there experimental electronic music coalesces with Eastern melodic motifs and instrumentation, presenting an incredible example of tom feral’s knack for taking cues from an array of musical influences to deliver something entirely new. Closing the record with “Voices,” the smokey buzz of building synth textures develops with thumping rhythms to lay down an engrossing finale to his epic new record.

Rotten also arrives alongside Mango, tom feral’s more melodic and emotionally driven full-length album. Heard together, the two releases reveal different sides of the same musical identity, with one exploring a more contemplative approach while the other prioritises sonic punch, movement and playful experimentation. As an artist, tom feral completely discards the rule book to bring to life his own sonic vision exactly as he sees it and whether you enjoy the outcome or not, he’s most certainly an intriguing creative figure willing to venture into the unexplored areas of the musical map.

Listen to Rotten below