With those machines the York artist has created wonderfully absorbing works that lend themselves to headphone daydreams and late-night reflection, somewhat akin to the crafted techno of Derek Carr or Mihail P in many respects.
I can understand people getting peeved when it comes to genre tags. Ambient, electro, techno and all the others. They get bandied about and mutate into more even more annoying concoctions. Nevertheless, they do have their uses. Over the last decade there has been a resurgence in certain styles of house, specifically a coarse and raw brand centered around the classic patterns of Roland’s drum machines with some serious nods to the pioneers of Chicago.
Nigel Rogers is best known for his Perseus Traxx alias but in reality the York-based artist is highly prolific under a dizzying number of monikers. Nevertheless, it is his best known pseudonym which has been most productive. The style explored has been a rich seam of house, from deep delicate works to throat gripping grunters and choking acid bruisers on labels like Bunker, Photic Fields and his own Future Flash. Of late the UK musician has been casting the net ever wider and has been picked up by new up and coming imprints. Enter Distant Worlds.
The 12”, Simulacra, comes to life with the classical Chitown grooves and 707 punches of “New Mystery”. Deep and inviting basslines are balanced by gentle notes in a though-provoking track. Angular percussion introduces “Simulacra” with it appearing that Rogers has carved a rawer cut for the quartet. This isn’t the case. Allowed to develop, a work of warbling keys and comforting warmth is unveiled with those jagged drums melting to a rumbling bedrock. An even more intimidating beat pattern opens “Circumstantial” with Perseus Traxx giving his rhythmic composer a solid work out. Taking a different route from the siblings, “Circumstantial” constructs a dreamy dialogue of cascading chords and playful interludes on chalky claps. The track stands out as the most dancefloor centric of the four as the depths are once again plumbed with the radiant low heat of “The Map Is Not The Territory.” Bending and curving with a good natured flexibility, the closer meanders to ever changing currents as it leads the 12″ out.
Distant Worlds has, in a way, deviated from its established path of IDM tinged techno. Nigel Rogers’ sound has the unmistakable footprint of Chicago to it, probably because he is using the same machines as those first artists of house did. With those machines the York artist has created wonderfully absorbing works that lend themselves to headphone daydreams and late-night reflection, somewhat akin to the crafted techno of Derek Carr or Mihail P in many respects. Then again, genre tags aren’t important.
Simulacra is available on Distant Worlds.
