Where there is no doubt is that Reflections was decades ahead of its time. This re-issue breathes new life into the tracks, reviving them to bring them back to their full glory, a glory that, thirty years later, continues to be absorbing, engaging and pioneering.
A sensory experience that goes beyond the speakers
Bill Clinton was president of the U.S. John Major, prime minister of the U.K. And, still being celebrated to this day, Ireland beat Italy in the World Cup. 1994 is a memorable year. It was also a time when techno reached a certain peak. Detroit was serving up wonderful machine funk. The Netherlands was cultivating talented musicians like Steffan Robbers and Speedy J. Alongside these European and Transatlantic successes in electronics, Britain was the hotbed for a new breed of techno artist. In 1994, Warp Records was in the middle of its seminal Artificial Intelligence series. Rephlex had recently been founded and B12 were still operating their own trailblazing imprint.
Another label-in-arms was A.R.T., Applied Rhythmic Technology, ran by Kirk Degiorgio. With Rephlex, the mythical Philosophy of Sound and Machine compilation was released. With Rutter and Golding of B12, Degiorgio worked closely and shared both music and ideas through various artists collections and remixes. He was also responsible for some of the most seminal electronics of that era with his music appearing on Clear, Mo Wax and New Electronica. It is his As One album, Reflections, originally released on New Electronica in 1994, that Barcelona’s Lapsus Records have turned for the latest in their superb Perennial series.
The 2LP has been lovingly restored. The care and attention dedicated to reviviing these works is evident from the outset. Interwoven drum patterns introduce “Mihara,” lazy squelchy bass giving way to sailing melodies in this densely layered opener. Degiorgio’s ability to craft complex harmonies is truly enviable. The seemingly effortless shifts of “Meridian”, ten minutes plus in length, is testament to the position he holds amongst the techno faithful. It is also an example of the sheer quality of As One’s execution, one which is organic and unparalleled to this day. The approach to audio exploration across the thirteen tracks is both confident and subtle. “Orchilla” is understated, echoes of bleep obitting deft drum beats, with that same modesty being employed in the reductionist flows of “Dance of the Uighurs.”
There is a real tactile quality to Degiorgio’s productions. Perhaps this is based on the hardware he choose; Oberheim OB8, Roland TR-808, Yamaha DX100. But, it is the composition of his tracks that gives them such a physical presence. From the watery tones of “Majik Jar” to the hazy vibrance of “Soleil Levant,” Reflections captures a sensory experience that goes beyond the speakers. There are pieces that sound of their time, the ruffled percussion of “Shambala” or the angular bass of “Lunate” calling to mind what likeminded artists from Sheffield were creating. Other works try to shake free the shackles of gravity and find solace in introspection and outward journeying. The cerebral movements of “Asa Nisi Masa”, the celestial audio scans of “Star Gaze” are emblematic of the deeper considerations of the album, considerations that come to an end with the playful melancholy of “Moon Over the Moab.”
It’s interesting to cast an eye down the inspiration that Degiorgio listed on Reflections. Apart from Juan Atkins, there are few names from the world of techno jumping off the inner sleeve. Instead, it is names from jazz, p-funk and especially house that are prominent. This isn’t to say that the sounds of the machine weren’t present when As One sculpted the double LP, they were and collaborations were active. Yet, this record sits somewhere both inside and outside the canon of ambient techno or IDM; these delicate and fragile pieces have withstood the test of time. Where there is no doubt is that Reflections was decades ahead of its time. This re-issue breathes new life into the tracks, reviving them to bring them back to their full glory, a glory that, thirty years later, continues to be absorbing, engaging and pioneering.
ooo is available on Lapsus. [Bandcamp]
