TECHNO REVIEWS 7.5 British Murder Boys
Where Pail Limbs Lie Liberation Technologies
9.0
‘Limbs’ is one of the most eagerly awaited techno releases of 2012, and Surgeon and Regis don’t disappoint. The title track is based on the kind of industrial broken beat that has become the staple sound in techno, and one which both producers helped to shape. The key difference between it and the countless other industrial tracks out there are the details; the bursts of guitar at the end; the eerie strings, and that indescribably spooky scratching sound that weaves in and out of the arrangement. ‘In Another Country’ is less intense, but also sounds unique thanks to the fuzzy synths that surround its dense groove.
Andy Stott
Luxury Problems Modern Love 8.5
Stott has evolved so much throughout his brief career that it’s almost inconceivable to think that the producer behind ‘Problems’ is the same one who made the insane acid of ‘Demons In The Attic’. ‘Problems’ is a largely downtempo affair, but is powerful all the same; the dreamy ‘Numb’ features an angelic vocal fused with a rolling bass, while a more eerie mood is audible on ‘Lost & Found’, where death- march drums welcome a more chilling vocal. It’s impossible to predict what Stott will do next, but in the meantime, this collection of funereal techno sounds sublime.
DJ Linus
KB’s Groove (Remixes) Initials 8.0
Readers of a certain age will remember the soulful acidic house of ‘Groove’ from the late ‘90s, but the Initials label has provided an impressive update for newcomers. Kris Wadsworth’s version evolves from downer-fuelled vocals to a 104
Following his excellent EP for Frustrated Funk, Terence Dixon debuts on Delsin. The title track is a high-paced stomper unusual for the Detroit producer, but one that stands apart thanks to his use of glassy percussion and a soaring bassline. ‘Two Sides To Every Story’ sees Dixon remain in high- octane territory as it centres once again on a slamming rhythm, but the mystical, eerie synths make it less obvious than standard tool tracks.
Silent Servant Negative Fascination
Extended 12” Mixes Hospital Productions 8.5
teased-out, stripped-back acidic rhythm. By contrast, the Analogue Cops push ‘Groove’ into a techno direction. The heavy drums, powerful bass and insistent bleeps will open up one of Linus’ finest moments to a whole new audience.
JT Stewart
Ophelia EP Echovolt 8.5
The man behind the Stinkworx project delivers only his second ever release under his own name. ‘Vandaleur’ features spacey synths and drizzling acid lines, but it’s the pulsing, supernatural bass that stands out. ‘Forgotten Hauler’ features a similarly brooding bass, this time anchored to lither drums, but the title track is the highlight — over splintered beats and heavy drums, Stewart delivers the most emotive piano line this side of Larry Heard.
NCW
Pharoah & The Goose Apartment 8.5
NCW’s latest release features two versions of ‘Pharoah’ that clock in at almost half an hour. The first version starts with chiming chords and an understated groove, but the high point is the vocal that talks about “the creator” and which gradually gets more audible as the track progresses. The second version starts with understated droning sounds and evolves gradually, its slowly up-building groove and warm hooks making for a seductive combination. If you like techno that teases, this is for you.
Population One
Midnight Hour Delsin
Juan Mendez’s album of the same name saw him make the transition from the dancefloor to a more abstract approach. He may not like to hear this, but this collection of clubby remixes of album tracks is just as impressive. The new take on ‘Strange Attractor’ is a throbbing chainmail percussive groove; ‘Invocation Of Lust’ features spiky percussion and a throbbing bass, while the doubled-up claps and tunneling rhythm of ‘Utopian Disaster (End)’ is the most reminiscent of Sandwell’s resonating sound.
Tyler Friedmann
Night In The Woods Kontra 7.5
‘Woods’ is a twelve-minute voyage into abstract, minimal techno as Friedmann adds slivers of trance melody over wooden, offbeat drums. Rivet’s remix is even more impressive. Coming across like a warehouse take on classic Dan Bell, the phased vocal gives way to a disco-fuelled chord loop that jumps back to Rivet’s tracky, vocal-led rhythm after a few minutes.
Unbroken Dub
Checkpoint EP Delsin 7.5
He comes from Serbia, but Unbroken Dub makes music that sounds like it was made in London and inspired by Detroit and Chicago. ‘Det Special’, with its stepping rhythm, prowling bass and sensuous chords, makes for bass music with a real sense of soul. ‘I Want To Make This Louder’ is more conventional and in keeping with Delsin’s usual approach as deep chords unfold over a mid-paced rhythm. ‘Insane’ is more wiry, with acid lines skirting across the arrangement, completing an impressive debut for the Dutch label.
www.djmag.ca
Inigo Kennedy Spectre/
Wonderhorse Token 8.0
Instead of Token’s typically hard-edged approach, Kennedy mixes up ghostly melodies with crackling percussion on ‘Spectre’. ‘Wonderhorse’ marks an even more radical transition, with Aphex-like vocal-tinged melodies to the fore.
Paul Mac
Hotel Insomnia EP EPM Music 7.5
UK techno veteran Paul Mac delivers a Detroit- influenced release. The title track is a tracky affair, but the breezy chords and dramatic strings ensure that it maintains a musical feeling. Marcel Fengler provides a tough, bass-heavy take on ‘Insomnia’.
RICHARD BROPHY,
richardbrophy@gmail.com
QUICKIES Samuel Kerridge
Auris Interna Horizontal Ground 8.0
‘Inandout’ is all hissing noises and steel foundry sounds, while the murderous bass and eerie atmospherics of ‘Auditory System’ and ‘Membranous Labyrinth’ prove irresistible.
Tudor Acid The Wrong Side Of
Day Part 8 Tudor Beats 7.5
Bristol act Tudor Beats delivers more playfully inventive electronic music. ‘The View From Up There’ features melancholic, ethereal pianos, ‘The Highest Point On Earth’ is a weird blend of militaristic breakbeats and psychedelic muzak, while ‘Sound Of Raindrops’ is a lush synth soundtrack.
MR O ENGINEROOM
01. PAUL MAC ‘Hotel Insomnia’ EPM Music “One of the best Paul Mac tracks I have ever heard, funky as hell, crisp snares,
Detroit strings, ticks every box for just listening or dancing your socks off.”
02. VARIOUS ‘A Sides’ Drumcode “Hands-down the best techno compilation of club tracks this year. All guns are firing
with label boss Adam Beyer, Dustin Zahn, Joseph Capriati, Gary Beck...”
03. ROBERT HOOD ‘Torque One’ Music Man “First single taken from Robert’s new ‘Nighttime World’ outing. Deep, phasing synth
pads wash over mechanical-sounding percussion.”
04. BENJAMIN DAMAGE & DOC DANEEKA ‘Jumanji’ 50 Weapons “Taken from Modeselektor’s 50 Weapons compilation. ‘Jumanji’ is a quirky, tension-
building house number.”
05. MR O ‘Stromboli Revisted’ Motech “I wanted to give DJ 3000 a tribally influenced track for his more ethnic influenced
Motech imprint. Added some Chicago-style grit to spice it up.”
06. TOOB ‘Our Marble Roll’ Chop House “Fluttering melody, infectious rolling/bouncing sound keeps the track moving.”
07. MR O ‘I Just Want Normal (Mark Broom Remix)’ Engineroom “Broomy kills it once again, the man who can do no wrong jacks it up.”
08. MR JONES ‘Black Rainbow (Black Asteriod Remix)’ The Public Stand “Tension builder of the year goes to Black Asteroid. Huge track that just keeps
stabbing you to keep moving.”
09. DJ EMERSON ‘Rubberband Man (Brian Sanhaji Remix)’ CLR “Grinding builder, perfect for those peak-time sets.”
10. DOMGUE ‘Beggin (Oktored Remix)’ Deteledub “Pubahs saxophonist reworks the Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons classic, also
covered by Madcon in a dubstep style. OktoRed takes it in a 2-step direction.”
MONEYSHOT!
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