Lithuania landed in Chicago: a review of Plasma’s LP “Inperimental”

A curious title, a comeback after decades, and a blend of sounds coming from both US and Lithuania.
“Inperimental” is a mix of vibes, old and new, and a profound project that impressed me. Both visually and musically.

Behind the album is Plasma, a Lithuanian electronic duo that lit up the Baltics’ ’90s rave scene with underground classics Plug & Play and Microworld.

I took some time to explore their past releases, and I was really impressed by the fresh take on techno that was already present back in the days. There’s that electro house lead that really stands out. But after this success, things stopped. Saidas moved to the US, Darius stayed in Vilnius, and the artists followed different projects. Until 2023, when they got back and rebuilt “Inperimental”, their comeback album. It’s available as a vinyl, with a super cool sleeve that can be seen with red-light glasses, and includes 9 tracks.

What caught me is the fil rouge of the release: a blend of Vilnius and Chicago.

The main genre is warehouse techno, with spacier takes like “Ventilator“, and a lot of experimental bits that range from trance to oldschool house. Chicago style, of course.
It’s clear that the artists took different influences, and there was a lot of communication, back and forth, behind the rebirth of this sound.

Sometimes the clash is evident (maybe a bit too much friction in a few spots), but other times the subtlety is simply spectacular. Take one of my favorites, “Alpine Mindbloom”: at first I was confused by the exotic vocal clashing with the spacey melody, then it slowly made more sense. It fit what I had in my brain and let me really immerse in the composition. I closed my eyes and immediately thought, “this is art.”
And that was just the first track. That’s the story of “Inperimental“.

You can listen to “Inperimental” here. You can purchase double vinyl (2LP) here.

Especially in courageous takes like “Plastic Ping”, the duo really pushes to keep the result dreamy and hypnotic.
This dreamy vibe is difficult to describe, but I really liked how it’s persistent everywhere, just in different forms. Sometimes it’s a pad, sometimes it’s in the melody itself, sometimes it’s just in the groove.

The massive professionalism and knowledge of the tools is clear from the sample choice and the way they work over them, creating new sounds with just a few, well-chosen materials.
This is more than a nostalgic revival. It’s something new. A mature, complex take on the genre from two artists who know exactly what they’re doing. An unforgettable comeback, and I’m sure you’ll share my same vision.

As usual, here’s my top 3:

Rubber Duck
80/100

The hypnotism here was sensational. A techy plug dominates the composition, with spacey and tippy sound design resembling an open space of sounds, slowly evolving into a sci-fi banger.
The rhythm is packed: no time for pauses. “Rubber Duck” hits with its bass, over and over. Not the most emotionally deep one, but its tight arrangement and sonic play make it one of the grooviest on the album. Definitely a peak-time weapon.

Plastic Ping
84/100

This one impressed me for the sample choice: very surprising. On one side, an oldschool lead with clear retro vibes. Then an evolution into more futuristic territories, with this plastic ping going over and over, breaking the structure.
Melody is energetic, the beat keeps pulsating, while the structure stays dreamy and a bit unstable, like it’s floating but never static. Loved the clash, it’s bold. There’s something slightly twisted about it in the best way.

Alpine Mindbloom
86/100

The presence of a trippy vocal right at the beginning helped set up a mysterious, exotic atmosphere. This one really stands out and opens the dances in an amazing way.
Bouncy kicks and that vocal sample create a track that’s hard to forget. The drums feel alive too, snappy, a bit dry, but full of groove. There’s also this swirling lead in the background that makes it feel like you’re spinning slowly in space. Favorite intro by far.

Other tracks I’d recommend spending more time with: “Ventilator“, which really explores the ambient side of the duo’s vision, and “I Like Snow“, a surprisingly groovy one that clearly has some influences from legends like Eric Prydz. Both are more laid-back but reward a second listen.