Sentiment Series Vol.12 is an entertaining little EP showcasing some pretty strong techno tunes. The major point of strength of this release lays in the fact that each tune offers its own approach.
Some pretty strong techno tunes
Sentiment Series Vol.12 is an entertaining little EP showcasing some pretty strong techno tunes produced by Pollaar (aka Farron and Lazarus). The major point of strength of this release lays in the fact that each tune offers its own approach, and while there are similar styles displayed throughout, this isn’t the kind of EP that displays a series of solid tracks and that’s about it; I mean, it even has a proper intro and outro and it seems to be putting in some effort when it comes to being more than just a couple of leftovers cobbled together.
That’s another reason why it is so satisfying overall, because the introductory ambient piece “Low Fashion” sets the tone for the couple of tunes that follow. The sound initially strikes me as really similar to some old school Chain Reaction classics, like Porter Ricks’ Biokinetics or—my favorite—Monolake’s Hong Kong; I want to state that the similarities are, indeed, only in sound and aesthetics, because the techno that Pollaar offer here is far from minimal. There’s some pretty strong grooves on display, not within the first three tracks, but as “Mango Push” starts, you suddenly shift from this initial ambient atmosphere to a pretty club-friendly set of tracks.
Both styles are executed really well though, with “Yeah Left” being one of the tunes that merges both really effectively; I love the ambient pads on this one, they give the piece an almost natural feel to it, which may be why I’m so drawn to comparing it to Hong Kong, but on the other hand, the groove is so warm and active that it leads me into an opposite direction, sounding like a lot of recent Hardgroove EPs coming out. Either way, this combination works really well, with the ambience giving the track a really fresh feel while the sustained groove beneath always keeps it pumping. The ambience in “Capri Sonic” also has an old-school feel to it, but the track is quite a bit heavier, with some pounding kicks.
Pounding kicks ::
“Mango Push,” my favorite of the bunch, dives even more into some jumpy grooves, being the best at this approach. I really like how energetic this tune is, the rhythms are really tight and fast and they play really well into the spacious ambience I’ve talked about until now. I especially like how it always keeps things varied, it has a great sense of pace, thanks to how often it alternates between its chill and its danceable parts; this happens for most tracks on this EP, which is why it never runs out of gas.
“Alois” is when the EP gets darkest instead, not quite an industrial tune, but it really puts emphasis on more rigid and aggressive rhythms. There’s also a bit of distortion on the low end, the kicks are a bit gritty, they’re not quite harsh but they definitely give the track a rougher feel overall. “Wallenberg” is also a bit rugged, it has a bit of a Detroit or Birmingham sound to it, some early ’90s Tresor influences here, which are always very pleasant for me to listen to, especially in modern electronics.
The only slower points of this EP are “Capri Sonic” and the just mentioned “Wellenberg,” but not because they’re relaxed, solely because they seem to be a bit more repetitive than the other tracks, so they lose a bit of momentum as they go. That being said, everything else here is thoroughly enjoyable, offering a great blend of different styles while still keeping the fundamentals safe and sound—and you can bet that the tunes here will get you moving. “Mango Push” is an especially nice cut, offering the EP’s overall best groove.
Sentiment Series Vol.12 is available on Shaw Cuts. [Bandcamp]
