(11.18.07) There are few names in the electro scene that command such respect and admiration as Danny Wolfers, aka Legowelt. Wolfers started fully down the shady path of dutch electronix in 1998 with his Pimpshifter EP on Bunker Records. Since then, Wolfers has released an array of records, from electro to house, ambient to techno and acid under monikers such as Smackos, Salamandos, Squadro Blanco, Venom 18, Polarious, Klaus Weltman and more. His most recent excursion is under his mock Rome pseudonym: Gladio. Gladio was born on Bunker Records in 2003 with the much sought after Slave of Rome EP. Since then, the Roman jacker has laid low in the slums and ghettos of the Empire’s underworld. Now, the slave emerges once; this time on the Glasgow based imprint Mighty Robot Recordings. Gladio has been summoned, his mission to bring his dark house back.
The EP, entitled Hadrian’s Wall is a five tracker and opens with “Fighting for the North.” Wolfers enjoys to have a narrative to his aliases, such as the cold war agent disguise of Venom 18; Gladio is no exception, with the Slave of Rome being sent to invade the Bration State. Vocoded orders set out Gladio’s task before deep bass lines start the raid, with waves of snare storming ahead. Sinister tones control the battle from the sides lines of this tough house track; a jacking B.C. “Gladius Gladius” ends the A-Side. The fury of the initial attack is calmed as Gladio ushers in a more minimal piece. The synthlines are playful, a Roman Empire in 8bit. Nevertheless, the unmistakable Wolfers’ darkness is ever present; looming in the shadowy undercurrents.
The Champion of the Neo Rome Militia steps into Gladio’s Colleseum: “Centurion.” Tentative tones are flooded with deep bass and snare lashes. The track is brimming with analogue aggression, a two man to the death battle of thrust and parry jack. “Hadrian’s Dance” moves in with a full toga donned, wine swilling, Caligula fuelled house assault. The bass is deep, the beats are cutting and the synth is being pushed to the maximus; a track surging Gladio into the A.D. The EP finishes with a shout out to those C4 archaeologists: “Time Team Track.” Tony Robinson, this is for you, drop that trowel and jack that history loving body. Gladio serves up a debitage of fast acidified house; pushing his excavated analogue machines to the limit. A decadent track of dirty Hague electronix to finish things off.
Hadrian’s Wall is yet another example of Danny Wolfers’ ability. The record serves up a spread of house cuts, each with their own subtleties and influences. This is not 80’s Chicago House, though it does have influences from the States, this is Dutch Wolfers’ invented House that is as clever as it is jacking. Mighty Robot Recordings is establishing itself as one of the electro imprints of the North, and with records like this its position is well justified. Let’s just hope that now Gladio has been released that he will make more appearances.
Hadrian’s Wall EP is out now on Mighty Robot.
