Dronelock & Ontal conjure up some powerful atmospheres on Parallax that work well in any number of settings—a hardworking blend of industrial techno, dance floor beats, looped found sounds and mechanical workouts for your ears and brain.
Dronelock & Ontal’s Parallax is a hardworking blend of industrial techno, dance floor beats, looped found sounds and mechanical workouts for your ears and brain. While definitely modern it has a welcome early 90’s vibe to it ala Plastikman, Pan_Sonic, Speedy J and even Scuba’s works from a few years back. This is the third in the Shadowstreet series and it makes me want to check out the first two on its strength and sound.
Parallax opens with wet, splattering reverb and the sound of broken glassy instruments coming to life under swirling loops. This morphs into a distorted, almost reggaeton beat under whispering white noise droplets reminiscent of early Speedy J. There’s a simplicity at work here that makes for a rhythmic and dare I say funky beat for noises to play out over. It could use a slight quicker integration of new elements as it drags a bit without being intriguing but overall it’s a good introduction to the album.
“Parallax (Shadows Remix)” clocks in at a little over a minute longer than the original and adds a ton of sonic grime, stuttering rhythms and swagger to a pleasurably noisy mix. While good it seems oddly out of place in the flow and sequence of the album as a whole. “Drop Forge Steel” opens with an intriguing found sound loop then marches us into dance with a heavy, kick drum. We’re in deep techno territory here, conjuring images of flashing strobes, sweaty bodies and hundred of crushed plastic cups under stomping feet of the entranced, dancing hordes. Siren-like feedback wails and air raid horns provide the only thing close to a melody and this is good. The track has a great build and strength to it. “The End Of Eternity” continues the background wailing behind a thudding kick drum and filtered, looped beat. This track is a little more cerebral and ambient than the others without putting you to sleep. There’s a steady, paranoid pulse snaking around in it that keeps you wary and on the lookout for something darker coming along. Which does. “Templum” opens with Hawtin-esque 909 thudding drums and oscillating arpeggio drenched in reverberating echo. The drums stay simple while the real attraction is what’s going on in the background amidst the chiming rhythms and throbbing loops. A nice interplay develops between chimes and drums putting a rather hypnotic effect over on the mind and body. This track takes you somewhere in a way the others don’t. “Hypothermia” is a tense affair, with hard-panned thumping percussion slightly obscuring a reverb-drenched background whine. The rhythms continue to build into a dense, claustrophobic soundscape that weaves in and out of space in the ears. There’s much more hard beats here than melody or harmony which gives the track a powerful drive.
Dronelock & Ontal conjure up some powerful atmospheres on Parallax that work well in any number of settings so long as you have ears and the room to move with them.
Parallax is available on Shadow Story.
