It’s difficult to listen to Artificial Paradise and not reminisce about the glory days of techno, a time when a string of new talent was coming to the fore with challenging, complex and compelling machine music. While Erell Ranson is no newcomer, he is part of this new generation. Yes, the past was indeed wonderful, but the present is sounding just as exciting.
Erell Ranson started down the machine music path on Arne Weinberg’s AW Recordings back in 2006. Since then the frenchman’s journey has taken in some superb audio landscapes, Everything Needs To Be Clear on aDepth Audio for example, though the number of pauses stopped a head of steam from building up to a stream of production. 2017 saw this change. Following Hand in Hand on Kalahari Oyster Club Ranson has had a veritable glut of releases, with 12”s on Barba, Childhood Electronix and now the UK’s Distant Worlds.
Around an understated beat grow silken keys as layers melt in “After The Rain.” From this base a spread of elements interplay. From classic techno warble and warm notes to elegant strings, a deep dreamscape is constructed, one that is beautifully balanced and effortlessly light. The 90s are delved into for the title piece. Inspired by a plethora of pioneers, “Artificial Paradise” is a work of future gazing funk. Drum patterns twist and writhe under delay and echo while synthlines duck and soar about this tumultuous sea. The flip opens with “No Such Thing,” a piece steeped in the traditions of early B12. From a base of claps and hi-hats rises that unmistakable warbling trill of Electro Soma, an extended bleep that bends and bellows in the gentle breezes of this absorbing work. Although “Scattered Minds” might sound like a homage to the excellent “Scattered Thoughts” by Separate Minds (end of this mix if you’re interested), in fact this finale is the most gentle of the quartet. Astral flotsam and jetsam float on waves on melody.
It’s difficult to listen to Artificial Paradise and not reminisce about the glory days of techno, a time when a string of new talent was coming to the fore with challenging, complex and compelling machine music. Yet, is it necessary to look back? Throughout its catalogue Distant Worlds has shown time and time again that a new generation of melodically minded musicians are crafting absorbing electronic compositions. While Erell Ranson is no newcomer, he is part of this new generation. Yes, the past was indeed wonderful, but the present is sounding just as exciting.
Artificial Paradise is available on Distant Worlds.
