30drop. Unusual Extremes EP

This is a special limited edition red vinyl release from the Barcelona artist 30drop, to mark its second anniversary. There aren’t many techno artists who explicitly discuss the social and cultural context of their work, or who so clearly emphasise the conceptual aspects of their work,  but this is intrinsic to the way 30drop operates as an artist and as a label. Although the title doesn’t illustrate it, this unreleased track and remix still bear traces of the cosmic techno tropes in its previous work.



’Unusual Extremes’ opens with a brief percussive impact, then runs straight into a quite sinister and subtly icy sequence that comes to haunt the track. If this does represent some sort of cosmic journey, it’s a colder one than many Detroit artists would offer. Detroit may be an influeunce, but there are only frozen, intensely filtered traces of Detroitian harmonic warmth and optimism and the track works all the better as a result.




The Black Dog Remix has a tougher start, rapidly creating a very serious and intense atmosphere. The main innovations the Sheffield duo bring to bear are an uncanny, morphing drone, minimalistic acid sweeps and some subtly sharpened percussion. The result is a forceful and compelling remix that takes the original further into the uncharted territory it was assigned to explore.

30drop. Unusual Extremes EP

12″ Vinyl // Digital – December 16th 2016

30D-005

Review: Buck "Subterranean Explorations" (Substrato sub002)

This is the second vinyl release on the new Italian label Substrato and a sign of the health and innovation of the Italian scene generally. The mountain-themed artwork and geological aspect of the label concept continue a vein of spatial, conceptual, Italian techno already apparent in the work of Giorgio Gigli and others. Buck is the alias of Substrato owner Alessandro Stefanio, who also records as OL-047 and Slick Station.

The title of the opening 'Ambient Progression' isn't an accurate indicator of what's to come. It's cavernous and relentless from the start, techno on a grand, panoramic scale. It's less than seven minutes, but due to its use of deceleration and acceleration and textural variation, it feels lengthier, in the best sense. At one point an industrialised Moroderesque sequence comes to the fore and in the final section a stricter and more minimalistic mood asserts itself. Its only fault is that it casts a long shadow that the following tracks can't quite escape from.

'Atmo 003' is slower and more introspective. Its coldly futuristic atmosphere brings to mind the work of the legendary Vapourspace project from two decades previously.

The beats drop away for 'On Board', which is a more beatific ambient piece. Symphonic chords and layered, processed voices are used to create an atmospheric soundscape.

Dutch duo Artefakt shift the mood again with an optimistic, uptempo remix of 'On Board', which initially discards the ambient wash of the original in favour of a bassline-driven linear agenda. As it proceeds the ambience of the original is gradually brought back in and finally re-asserts itself.

Review: PSYK, Maan ORIGIN (Non series NON022)

NON022

PSYK, Maan

‘ORIGIN’

Non Series Vinyl 12” / Digital download NON022

April 15 2016

This short, powerful and minimal release is a split between the two aliases of Madrid's Manuel Anós; Psyk and Maan. It's released on his own Non Series label, which has also recently released Tadeo's impressive Chronicles of the Future album.

Psyk opens the EP with 'Origin', which features sustained, rising synth chords and a bleepy pattern that slowly modulates. It's a minimal framework marked out by sparse but rich elements that glides frictionlessly to a sudden dead stop.

Maan's track 'Loops' reveals the subtle differences between the producer's two aliases. It slides straight in and operates at full effect from the start. It's a model of total efficiency, gradually augmented by effective Phuture-style handclaps. Compared to the two Psyk tracks it has a deeper, more minimal, bass pulse and sits between them well.

Finally, Psyk's 'Wire', a tightly-coiled track on which everything comes together from the start. It's a clean, intense, elegantly filtered track. Based around a cycling,  modulating main sequence, it gradually evolves and decays to impresssive effect, bringing to mind Robert Hood's Minimal Nation era work and closing this all-too-brief release in fine style.

Review: AX&P (Adam X & Perc) Mutiny & Disorder

AX&P (Adam X & Perc)

Mutiny & Disorder

Format. Vinyl & digital

Cat.Number. Ampere&Ohm AX&P002

This is the second release from the trans-Atlantic techno duo following their 2013 debut on their Ampere & Ohm label. It's an all too brief and functional statement of intent and a reminder of their potential (recently demonstrated at gigs in London, Paris and The Netherlands). These two tracks build on the previous release but are less minimal and more dramatic. 

'Mutiny' features Adam X's tense, whispered vocals, urging us “into the battle”. The initially rigid structure is marked out by Traversable Wormhole-style space bleeps later augmented by a strange ravey sequence that seems to reveal Perc's lurking presence.

This is followed by the deeper 'Disorder', which is less obviously dramatic but richer sonically. It has a widescreen sound akin to Senking's recent cinematic soundscapes but still delivers on the dancefloor. It becomes ever more intense as it unfolds, with the icy drones and sharp, electroid zaps almost being overwhelmed by a kick that could have come from a 1990s Dutch hardcore track.

Mutiny & Disorder works as a tantalising calling card for a future album, delivering more or less what would be expected of a collaboration between these two artists but in the process adding a fresh twist to the current industrial techno sound that only these two can deliver.