Amongst these is a taster of experimentation, yet the main course is one of bold and brilliant techno from a pioneer; seven tracks that build on from the past and will make many nightclubs shake, hopefully, in the near future.
Bold and brilliant techno from a pioneer
The fall of the Berlin Wall. The end of the Soviet Union. England losing in the Euros. A lot has happened since Humanoid released the seminal dancefloor favorite “Stakker Humanoid” in 1988. During the last thirty plus years, the figure behind the track that introduced acid to a generation has remained both aloof and mysterious. Brian Dougans, the man behind the moniker, resurfaced some years back on Rephlex and has sporadically hit shelves since with a greater focus on digital via fsoldigital. The Summer of Love might be a long time ago, but the veteran is here to revive it and to once again overheat speakers with a brand new album: 7 Songs.
The core sound of the album will be no surprise to fans of Humanoid, the liquid lines of the TB303 permeates the record with a dogged persistence. And those who know Dougans will be happy to know the electronic trailblazer is on top form as he serves up techno in its purest and rawest form. “Truc” sets the collection in motion with dark molten notes that bend and spike. A slow burning banger follows with “Last Seen,” percussion and kicks railing against a barrage of bubbling bass. The flip is occupied by three pieces, shamanic rhythms dominating “Swerver” with off-kilter beats being central in the introspective shadows of “Osculated.” The belter of the B-Side is “Pyramid 17.” Tribal rinses ghost alongside a chugging drum pattern as bitter 303 chords come to the surface in a track made for late night sweatboxes and early morning epiphanies.
Always ones to push the boat out, De:tuned have included a 10” to accompany the 12”. “Hed Set” is a proper old school burner. Sharp snares roll against samples, an acid line rising and rumbling without ever dominating in this balanced and heady work. The finale is a real bruiser. “Seen Last” trudges into the fight on stomping kicks as a wall of hi-hats descends. Sour circles from the omnipresent silver-box are punctured by broad stabs before a jaw-breaking clap hammers home. At twelve minutes it’ll lift spirits, shake windows and bring down the house.
It’s not clear whether or not 7 Songs is an album or not and, really, such things don’t matter. What is more than obvious is that Humanoid has not lost any of his knack for producing dancefloor melters. Amongst these is a taster of experimentation, yet the main course is one of bold and brilliant techno from a pioneer; seven tracks that build on from the past and will make many nightclubs shake, hopefully, in the near future.
7 Songs is available on De:tuned. [Facebook | Soundcloud]
