Initiatrix

Many consider Ship Sket’s debut to be one of the most exciting, genre-defying entries in the modern Planet Mu catalog. With InitiatriX, Manchester-based artist Josh Griffiths has crafted a sonic world that feels like a beautiful, high-speed derailment. It is a smeared, hallucinatory homage to the UK sounds he loves—drill, grime, and dubstep—mangled into something entirely new and delightfully "dada."

The record thrives on contrast. One moment you are submerged in "underwater" drill beats and filthy, distorted textures; the next, you are drifting through ornate string passages and naked, lonely piano melodies. It’s a record that feels alive and unpredictable, characterized by what Griffiths calls "happy accidents"—pushing sounds until they nearly disintegrate. Tracks like "Vendetta’s Theme" pair demonic, alchemical rapping with a relentless web of grit, while "Mimikyu" offers a haunted, cinematic atmosphere that sticks with you long after the needle drops.

Despite its experimental edge, InitiatriX never feels cold or clinical. There is a deep sense of spirituality and "latent darkness" running through the tracks, making it as much an emotional experience as it is a technical one. For the listener who wants to hear the sound of the UK underground being torn apart and stitched back together in real-time, this is a mandatory spin.