"Above The Clouds I Finally Found Peace carries a spiritual dimension, drawing from genres such as IDM and breaks to craft an intricate, experimental soundscapes."
Léo Naïtaïssa, the young Parisian now based in Berlin, has emerged as a rising star in the techno space. Known for dense, high-octane productions laced with an IDM-informed touch, Quelza returns with Above The Clouds I Finally Found Peace, a record that marks a deliberate shift in his sound.
Released on Ostgut Ton, the revered Berghain and Panorama Bar affiliated imprint, the record stands as a bold statement following the label’s recent revival in May 2025.
Above The Clouds I Finally Found Peace carries a spiritual dimension, drawing from genres such as IDM and breaks to craft an intricate, experimental soundscapes. Quelza frames the record as an invitation to “let go of expectations formed by previous releases, while preserving the emotional intensity and distinctive sonic identity that have come to define this work in recent years” – a clear signal to anticipate a different listening experience.
For listeners accustomed to the heaviness of his earlier material, this creative evolution is striking. The producer demonstrates real versatility, expanding his palette and moving away from a strictly club-focused approach. Instead of intense kick drums and pounding 160+ BPM tracks, this EP is defined by restraint and careful placement. The reduced sense of pressure allows progression itself to become an active compositional element within the soundscape.
What makes this shift particularly compelling is that it arrives without the protective buffer of an alias. Naïtaïssa once again releases under the name Quelza rather than experimenting under a different moniker. In a scene where producers often test new directions under alternate identities to preserve their established fan base, this decisiveness feels bold. It suggests confidence – both in his audience and in his own artistic trajectory.
But is this a wider signal? Might younger producers and DJs begin to explore leftfield territory more overtly under their primary identities? There is something refreshing about the possibility that listeners could come to expect multiplicity from a single name rather than fragmentation across several guises. It hints at a future where producers are less constrained by fixed expectations.
And what of Ostgut Ton? This release feels like a telling moment in the label’s next chapter. As Above The Clouds I Finally Found Peace sits alongside recent releases such as Klubnacht 01, Efdemin – Poly, and Isabel Soto – Morphosis EP, one wonders whether the storied imprint is signalling a renewed emphasis on atmosphere over velocity.
Above The Clouds I Finally Found Peace is out now via Ostgut Ton. Support the release and pick up your vinyl copy from Inverted Audio Record Store.
TRACKLIST
1. One Thought Responds To Another
2. Argo Voa
3. Les Vagues Danses Avec Le Étoiles
4. Above The Clouds I Finally Found Peace
5. Nuage En F Mineur
