Senking

Jens Massel, a native of Cologne, works chiefly under the Senking name and crafts dubby, abstract IDM alongside minimal techno entirely without computer assistance. During the opening half of the 1990s he performed electric bass in several indie-rock ensembles before purchasing an early-model synthesizer and turning to spare, experimental techno production in 1995. Two years later his debut 12-inch, the EP titled Senking issued under the Kandis alias, appeared as Karaoke Kalk’s inaugural release. While maintaining roles in the post-rock outfit Genf and the ambient trio Visor, he kept issuing solo material as Kandis; then in 1998 he launched the additional projects Fumble and the more active Senking. Between 1998 and 2003 at least one Senking record emerged annually, most of them on Karaoke Kalk—the self-titled Senking album (1998), Ping Thaw (2001), and Silencer (also 2001). Raster-Noton recruited him for its 20’ to 2000 series in 1999 and sustained the partnership through Trial (2000), Forge (2002), and Tap (2003). After a period of inactivity during which he issued a lone LP on Karaoke Kalk as the duo Poto & Cabengo, Massel revived the Senking name for the 2007 Raster-Noton album List. Pong followed in 2010, its concept drawn from the early-1970s arcade title of the same name. Two dubstep-leaning singles, Tweek in 2011 and Dazed in 2012, came next, succeeded by the full-length Capsize Recovery in 2013 and the digital-only Sea Level single in 2014. Closing Ice arrived in 2015.