Adam Jay often revisits old-school drum machines and spacey synth timbres that expose his experience regarding dance music culture.
A long trip back in time
The Inevitable Demise is Adam Jay’s recent release via Detroit Underground. This 24-track double album is a long trip back in time, more specifically to the good days where futuristic electronic music moved true pumping fist techno heads on dancefloors around the globe. On this work, although the artist often revisits old-school drum machines and spacey synth timbres that expose his experience regarding dance music culture, the variety of subgenres addressed, added to the usage of contemporary sounds complemented by slapping granular synths, reverbs, textures and dirty panning effects, turns the listening experience quite fresh.
The release is split in two environments. The fist part is a straightforward techno driven block with lots of groove, clearly intended for the dancefloor. The everchanging warm and yet piercing lead synths from “Last Days Of Normalcy” and “The Hole That Escaped Through” represent that incisive invitation to move your body. While “Ceremonies’” hi-hat reminded me right away of Dave Clarke’s “Way of Life,” “Interior Life’s” metallic snare and bassline showed that this release is richer in terms of genres embraced, since it makes a slight detour introducing an electro pace that recalls of David Carretta. The first part of the album follows with some tracks that recall tech-house, dub techno and other less categorizable cuts, until it finishes with “Remembering What Is Most Important,” an IDMish track composed with minimal techno clicks and cuts and lovely synths.
Saving the best for last, Adam Jay drops a heavy electro artillery on the second part, while using early Detroit techno as the backbone. This set of tracks wander from psychotic vibes delivered by the hypnotic lead of “Compulsive Overconsumption”, to the blossoming beauty in the middle of the swaying rhythm of “Where Pain Belongs,” the Autechre-like “Stolen Empathy” and the crazy dynamics of the dialogue between the hard pounding beats and the swinging bassline in “Meandering Reason,” my personal favorite. Although the album title affirms that death is inevitable, having a soundtrack like this in your collection can make life better. A big treat for fans of Dave Clarke and Clark.
The Inevitable Demise is available on Detroit Underground. [Bandcamp]
