RICHARD BROPHY,
richardbrophy@gmail.com
QUICKIES Tau Sagittarii
Sensory Data Mehanika 8.0
A side-project for Scape One, Data sees him pause his futuristic metallic rhythms to deliver dreamy synth soundtracks that are reminiscent of Neu! and Tangerine Dream. This writer’s favorite is the 20-minute, gentle electronics epic, ‘Solitude Of The Stars’.
Darkmode
Microwave Bass EP Biotech 7.0
A strong fusion of heavy electro bass and slamming techno rhythms prevails on the title track, while ‘Dark Star’ is a teased-out acid groove. Diarmaid O’Meara & Iron Blu’s remixes switch between distorted, slamming and stripped-back.
TECHNOREVIEWS
Secret Initiative V
Go Hiyama
Discreet Marble Warm Up 8.0
The Japanese producer delivers another excellent release that veers from the relentless, linear rhythm of ‘Dull Acuity’ to the understated, atmospheric rhythms of ‘First Refusal’. Label owner Oscar Mulero delivers two excellent broken beat reshapes.
The Hidden Persuader
People Of Earth Bass4Bots 8.0
The Hidden Persuader drops an excellent electro release that alternates between the shuffling 808s and detuned bleeps of ‘Beat Of My Heart’, the tranced-out ‘Bio Wave’ and the distorted fuzz of ‘We Are Computer’.
Trevino
Tactical Manoeuvre EP 3024
9.0
It’s been a hectic 18 months for Marcus Intalex, as his raw, upfront take on techno continues to win him new fans. This release for Martyn’s label will do him no harm. ‘Shank’ is a stepping affair, its broken beats tripping over acid and its bass plunging unexpectedly. But it’s the two straight cuts that will ensure he remains one of the most popular new names in techno. The title track is all dense tribal drums and effective filters, while the eerie string stab on the relentless ‘Spin Away’ is nothing short of unforgettable.
AnD
AnD 001 AnD 7.5
KENNY HANLONAPARTMENT
01. HEATSICK ‘Benelux’ Rush Hour “Hypnotic, lo-fi business made on beat-up Casio gear.”
02. MARK FORSHAW ‘Primitive Streak’ Tabernacle Records “Huge bassline matched by equally gigantic synth lines, the most playful
track on a killer 12”.”
03. JOHN HECKLE ‘Last Magic Maker’ Creme Organisation “Heckle changes his sound up a bit on this one, and it works.”
04. NCW ‘Pharoah And The Goose - B’ Apartment Records “Expansive deep trance, of the respectable kind.”
05. VERSALIFE ‘Isolated Context’ Frustrated Funk “More brooding electro from Borris Bunnik, deserves much more kudos for
this material than the Conforce gear.”
06. LEGOWELT ‘Rave Till Dawn’ Clone Jack For Daze “Wolfers has stripped-back and cleaned up his sound for his latest album,
delivering his best new material in a good while.”
07. EMG ‘Points Of View’ Relative “Kinda creepy, rugged house music.”
08. CHRISTOPHER RAU ‘New Stuff (Lerosa’s Rebuff)’ Never Learnt “This jacked-up remix is the highlight of the EP for me.”
09. FRAK ‘777’ Borft “More spaced-out weirdness from the comeback kids of 2012.”
10. STARSHIP COMMANDER WOOOOO WOOOOO ‘Master Ship
(Excerpt)’ Chocolate Industries “Barmy early ‘80s electronics from the ‘Personal Space’ compilation, an unsung gem of 2012.”
Manchester duo AnD go back to the mid-’90s for this debut on their own label. The A-side track sounds like they raided Mike Dearborn’s back catalogue, with heavy, distorted kick-drums pushing the faders into red while competing with waves of dank acid for the listener’s attention. The B-side features grayscale, noisy textures and a broken, equally relentless kick- drum, but for a pure, visceral thrill, the malign drums on the A-side win every time.
Backslash
Cold Fusion Technology Self Defence 7.5
‘Fusion’ may not have a forceful industrial sound, but whatever it lacks in power it makes up for with soul. The title track is an emotive deep techno affair and even has electro robot vocals intoning the title. However, the highlight is ‘The End Of The Weekenders’.
Its melodies are more fragile, its synths seductive and swirling — technology-based music rarely sounded this seductive.
Boo Williams
Looney Chunes Volume 1 Contemporary Scarecrow 8.0
While some Chicago producers have drifted into obscurity, Boo Williams is enjoying a renaissance. First Rush Hour released his excellent ‘Moving Rivers’, and now this double-pack lands. ‘Big Fat Women’ is pure Chicago disco house, with classic strings and vocals looped to infinity, but the more rewarding moments occur when Williams goes deeper. ‘Further Teck’ is a tracky affair that careers into a warm chord sequence, ‘Joy Ride’ sees Williams drop a jazzy techno melody over tumbling drums, and the warm melodies of ‘Real Teckno’ are accompanied by rickety snare rolls.
Ctrls
Centrally Processed Unit EP Token 8.0
Kr!z’s label has staked out its own sound — something that is extremely difficult to achieve in techno music — and this release typifies the Token approach. ‘Analogue Lies’ is stripped-back but complex, as drums bang together, the hum of static interference crackles through the arrangement and the tonal bleeps just about contain the sense of menace. The killer track here is ‘Limited Competition’; its central riff sounds like a chain being swung through the air, whooshing and whistling as it goes, and its percussion is so intricate and complex that it can only be observed properly under a microscope.
Secret Initiative 8.5
Unlike many faceless releases, this series has not been the subject of hype or speculation, which in turn has allowed whoever is behind these releases to simply put out compelling music. ‘East Of The Northern Star’ is a lithe stepping rhythm, powered by evocative chords and a viscous bass — and the firing percussion ensures that it retains its dancefloor appeal. ‘Half A Life Ago’ is more reflective, and its crisp 808s and soaring synths are reminiscent of Lost Trax. Ignore the hype and buy this series on sight.
Various
Semantica 50 Semantica 8.5
Semantica is proof that it’s still possible for labels to carve out their own identity — despite releasing a wide range of material. To celebrate its 50th release, the Spanish label features a collaboration between its owner Svreca and DJ Skirt. ‘Hymen’ centres on a gnarly bassline, sporadic bursts of noise and monstrous kick-drums. Yet it can’t match Surgeon’s ‘As You Breathe Here Now’, which combines a surging bassline with the kind of eerie, atmospheric sounds last heard on the Birmingham producer’s ‘Force & Form’ album.
Vertical67
Craic Memories Lunar Disko 8.0
The Dublin label takes a chance on another unknown artist and comes up trumps. Vertical67 has a melodic, playful sound that sits somewhere between Larry Heard, Italo disco and the stop-start awkwardness of long-forgotten ‘90s Chicago producer Chris Gray. Lunar Disko could have a big hit on their hands with ‘Mutuality’. Featuring Julie Dillon on vocals, its mournful synths and uplifting vocals are brought together over a pulsing bass and heavy claps for a ‘big’ moment.
Xamiga
Kermit’s Day Out Rush Hour 9.0
A collab between Danny ‘Legowelt’ Wolfers and partner Xosar, this EP tests the limits of techno. The title track is the most accessible music here, its insistent filters and tight claps steering the dense textures onto the dancefloor. ‘Wolfpack’ is more grainy and textured, and after the weirdness, the warbling synths and tumbling drums on ‘Unsolved Universe’ are a welcome return to the tripped-out Legowelt sound.
djmag.com 047
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