Dax J - Sphinx
Dax J said fuck modern civilization and went back to ancient aliens. The weight of it tracks back to space war creations where his latest EP Sphinx comes from. Released on his imprint, MONNOM Black, July 3, 2026, it consists of four tracks.
The industry is objectively stuck on the same repetitive monotonous sounds and old school approaches; or pushing into its second extremism where bpms seem to be smoking crack, Sphinx has no business measuring alongside it. It is deliberate in movement and steady in progression. The energy holds not because it's "fast" but because it lands in that sweet spot of the range where it keeps bodies moving and thoughts continually on hold.
Empyrean punches through the ceiling from start to finish. This track has already made its way to Dax's fans as their newly found jewel in the crown-the kind you loop without noticing you've been inside it for hours. The kicks are kicking, raw heat pulled straight from the 2500 BCE but wired into this record's alien narrative. It's the entry point, the gateway into Sphinx's non-linear timeline written in noise music.
At number two sits Sphinx, the title track. This suggests Dax's personal favorite must have been it. And how can you argue-while there are many reasons to admire Egypt's benevolent, divine protector, Dax has given us one more to add to this list. Everything feels measured, mirrored, locked into a symmetry that never tips over into predictability. As a cat lover, this feels extra special as I write this review with my very own little orange Sphinx tucked on my lap.
Next up is Baghdad, with voices coming from the distance echoing unformed memories. This one is a bit lighter if you may, the synths are flowing and percussions carry you in and then out. It's the moment the EP stops being a concept and starts grounding you in the present.
Sentinel closes out the EP. This one is my personal favorite-it's rounded, futuristic, consistent and as always, in Dax’s usual manner, never boring. A hard-hitting, padded sequence driving and hitting you in the face like a fuse of something in a rush, you need to get there, you need to reach your final destination. Two minutes in, it gives a hint: it's gonna be a powerful ride, buckle in and once again, forget thoughts exist. Cryptic message to alien spacecraft with each sound having a corresponding one that comes in later on. Only question it leaves room for is why so cut off at the end-to prove artistic talent or prepare us for what's next?
Although techno is sometimes thought to be the window into the future, Dax gives us his own interpretation of it, which actually begins in the past. It is the core of understanding anthropological theories rooted in cosmic explorations of existence and the constant search for the meaning of life. Dax's releases-System Collapse, Reign of Terror, and now Sphinx-are part of the same story, written on episodic timetables. Sphinx fits into his Monnom Black universe as the metaphysical chapter: part hypnotic, part brooding techno that delves into spirituality and higher realms.
And in the end, is it an attempt to travel back, but who is calling you from there? Wrestling back and forth with reality, it's provocative, but in a subtle, eloquent way. EP for people who like their techno as both hard hitting as their séance.
Dax J by KeyiStudio
