One of Monika Kruse’s travels led the revered DJ/producer to Belgrade, a city whose underground club scene is quietly thriving. The promotor of the techno party had booked talented local up-and-comer Ilija Djokovic in a support slot. Kruse enjoyed Djokovic’s set and they exchanged contact details.
Not too long later she included his track “Spectrum” on her Essential Mix and later released his blindingly good Blue Eyes EP in September on Terminal M.
Djokovic continues to define his deep, soulful brand of techno on the Enigma EP for Reinier Zonneveld’s Filth on Acid.
Read: Springtime in Belgrade: A Musical Journey Through Serbia’s Exuberant Capital
The smoldering title track is a joyous dance of minimal techno and house. It’s juxtaposed against the ominous slo-mo growl of “Lucid Dreams” and the eerie soundscape of “Requiem.” Italy’s Roberto Capuano closes out the EP with a ballsy remix of “Requiem.”
Minimalist and expansive, the Enigma EP is visceral, intimate and epic. It’ll be exciting to find out what he does next in 2018.