(February 2010) It seems nearly impossible to escape the Dutch hold on electronic music. If it is not the musicians themselves dominating it is the DJ’s. This is not a slur on The Netherlanders abilities, the opposite, it is a confirmation of their indescribable talents for creating electronics. Rotterdam, with its population of just near 600,000 seems to have an inexplicable knack for creating electronic pioneers. One man who has been there since the industrial squat parties of Unit Moebius has been Electronic Activity. This DJ is now turning his turntable marbled hands to production with the release of his first EP, Force Breeze.
The EP’s title track reverberates into life, cones of acidic waves twirling before vintage snares slice through. The sound toes the lines of acid, electro and techno; perhaps leaning most towards the former and latter. “Strobo Strong” is a packs more of a wallop, with slamming beats and caustic 303 tweaks. The track has an industrial quality to it, harking back to the early illegal parties of the Netherlands with their thumping tones and fog drenched settings. The 12″ ends with “Dance Macabre” which moves away from its predecessors. The track has some sentiments of early acid house in it, lulling but distinct chords backed by a steady pulse.
Force Breeze has a style similar to the sounds found emanating from labels like Bunker, or even echoes of Stilleben. The tracks have a rawness to them, a unshaven and unashamed course element which gives them a primitive strength. Electronic Activity’s sound is not something brand new, but it is something that is well made. These are solid electro-techno tracks with some serious echoes of the past injected into their acidified tweaks.
Force Breeze is out now on E-Activity.
