Storm Evolution I & II sees a wonderful marriage of past and present. The first foundations of electronic music employed to build new sounds and erect new visions from both first creators and the new generation of machine musicians.
My girlfriend was laughing at me recently, as she regularly does. I was playing away some records and prattling on about my hope for a decent Techno revival. She doesn’t share those same hopes. But I think the resurrection is underway, well I hope it is. A number of labels have continued the Techno project founded in the 90s, albeit some others have turned the sound into mechanical drudgery. Delsin has always been focussed on it, to wavering degrees of success. Tabernacle Records have been delivering quality contemporary takes on the sound since the imprint’s inception. Of late others have been casting their gaze back, looking to the past masters and their catalogs for inspiration. Now I know there are some who heave a heavy sigh with the amount of reissuing going on, but when it comes to Techno I’m more than happy to see past pearls being re-polished for a new life. This is exactly what Last Known Trajectory have done with their latest pair of vinyl plates.
Many of you will know In Sync. No boy band bandying please, here we’re talking about Lee Purkis who pioneered Techno on labels like Irdial Discs and Plink Plonk with Delsin just re-issuing the classic Storm from 1992. It is to In Sync’s early works that Last Known Trajectory have turned for a very special remix project.
Storm Evolution I & II sees five diverse artists tackling Purkis’ classic track. Up first is the immense talent of E.R.P. The Texan pushes the spacey boundaries of the twenty two year old original. Whispers of the past slip and slide beneath thick bars. Melodies warble, shimmering against skeletal beats and coldness. A fellow Irdial veteran is on hand for remixing duty. Ramjac Corporation had two releases on the seminal imprint in the mid-nineties. Ramjac delivers a bleep infused interpretation of “Warm” for a real slice of nostalgia. The quality keeps coming as Maarten van der Vleuten keeps the dreamscape flowing. The Dutch pioneer bolsters the original with wavering beat patterns, cascading chords and an authentic 90s feel.
The second installment in the series is set in motion by a personal hero of mine. Steffan Robbers founded Eevo Lute Muzique back in the 90s, using the platform to promote new artists and his own music under monikers like Florence and Terrace. Robbers has resurrected his Terrace pseudonym for his “Bass Melodica Diversion” remix. A late night, smoke filled track is laid down. A steady 4/4 pulse leads into meandering pipes of forgotten lands.
The final rework comes from a group who have come to characterize a modern view of Techno. Ambient washes have broken down the walls of percussion, drone, static and field recordings have usurped Detroit constructs. Cv313, aka Echospace, invert In Sync’s “Subway Route” into absolute abstraction. Fizzed footsteps, electrical rain and icy breath to close.
At times I feel that the weight of the past can sometimes hamper modern electronics. The loving gaze back can be just too tempting, especially when record shelves are packed with generic sounds and uninspired Techno. This means that many skilled musicians are swallowed in the warm waves of bygone years. Storm Evolution I & II sees a wonderful marriage of past and present. The first foundations of electronic music employed to build new sounds and erect new visions from both first creators and the new generation of machine musicians.
Storm Evolution I & II is available on Last Known Trajectory.
