Igloo Magazine :: Earth Trax :: Everlasting Flame (Lapsus)

Another success for both the label and Kruczyński

Everlasting Flame is the new release from one of the few aliases under which Bartosz Kruczyński publishes his work, this one being Earth Trax. Given that I was not familiar with the guy’s work, I decided to check out some of his other records to get an idea, and Earth Trax seems to be the alias mostly reserved for his ambient techno and IDM output, as Kruczyński‘s scope of music production seems pretty varied—see his work as Pejzaż for more sample-based music, for example. What ultimately led me to listen to his work is the fact that Everlasting Flame, like his last couple of records as Earth Trax, has been published by Lapsus, a label I have been following for the last couple of years and one that has always matched my taste thanks to its roster of slick, modern electronic music. Safe to say that Everlasting Flame is another success for both the label and Kruczyński, as it’s one of the most solid ambient techno LPs I’ve heard in quite some time.

This album combines ambience with a really robust low end and plenty of dub influences as well. The bass is great throughout the entire record, especially with the effects applied on some of the tracks, for example “Wait and See” and “Mothlight,” which really do come across as awesome modern dub. I’m also surprised at how well the album as a whole flows, because usually records like this one get a bit fatiguing by the end, but there’s lots of variety to be found in these compositions, as well as plenty of purely ambient tracks that help cleanse the palate. Other tracks manage to stand out because of some quirky additions, like occasional vocal chops in “The Paradox of the Heap” or one of the singles, “Everlasting Flame,” or because of their structure. Most tracks seem to take a different approach to how they develop, so that helps keep things fresh; some start out as ambient pieces and later morph into that ambient techno realm, like the just-mentioned “The Paradox of the Heap” or one of my absolute favorites, “Towboat,” while others start as techno and constantly evolve throughout, like the first two tracks of the LP, “In the Zone” and “Wait and See,” also two of my favorites.

A solid LP from front to back ::

What I dig most about this record is its really slick atmosphere. I believe it is at its best when the techno cuts settle in. Some of the longer tracks on this LP pull me in completely; once I get into that repetitive loop, I just can’t get enough of the album’s production. The first two tracks I mentioned above are two of my favorites for that exact reason: they establish such a fantastic atmosphere that would be perfect for a neon-lit night walk through some kind of ultra-futuristic city.

The more atmospheric tracks are also great, but they do lack that particular feel I just talked about and that I’m such a huge fan of. There’s lots of interesting composition to be found in this side of the album, though, like “Family Photos,” which starts out oddly close to some ’80s Japanese new age piece you’ve never heard. Other ambient tracks make great use of that deep bass that enriches the whole record, like the dub-influenced “Mothlight,” which almost sounds like an interlude you’d find on a Burial record. Some more variety is provided by the occasional piano, which softens the atmosphere, such as on “Cursed” or “Slipping Away.”

There’s great material to be found throughout the entire tracklist, which never bores me. This is a solid LP from front to back and one that I recommend listening to in its entirety to really appreciate both its atmosphere and its variety. It proposes a sound that draws from trends of the past, freshened by smooth production and some more interesting ideas. It is a record fans of ambient techno should not miss out on.

Everlasting Flame is available on Lapsus. [Bandcamp]