Top Techno from this diverse Dublin imprint.
Phantom Planet Outlaws caught people’s imagination with their Muscle Patrol EP on Tabernacle Records in 2012. The team of John Heckle, Mark Forshaw and Binny delivered corrosive Acid House and for dancefloor devilment and dreamed-out tube tunnel Techno. The trio have returned fresh for 2013 and are ready for a split 12” on Dublin’s Apartment Records. The UK triumvirate are jockeying for space with Ireland’s TR-One, a two man electronic outfit from the bowels of the Irish midlands (something I can relate to.) The Muscle, The Beets. The battlefield.
First up are the Outlaws with “HTG.” The threesome take a 303 and drive straight into in the 90’s. The track is a superb balance between abject squalor and churchyard divinity. Chords, straight from the likes of Stasis or Redcell, are married with hypnotic knob tweaks. A blinder to begin. Tr-One have a hard act to follow, but do with “Viceroy 9-C.” Galvanised snares are the motor, but a snifter of the familiar hits. This is the second time that Apartment Records has sent me digging for a track. Aphex Twin’s “Polynomial C” is the inspiration (guess the name might give a hint.) Theirs is a thoughtful, tapered and moody take of the Cornwall classic. “Hugunot Burial Ground 1733” opens the flip. Darkness rolls forth, Irish skies enveloping. Cymbals and bass are a scaffold for heavy hearted keys in this late night work of red eyed electronics. Those from the Phantom Planet close. The UK men menace with “The Green Light.” Toxic chords drip with intent, the track building along sinister lines into full blown horror.
Apartment Records is growing into one of Dublin’s premier electronic imprints. Kenny Hanlon’s label is giving interesting Irish artists a new platform whilst forging links with exciting outfits. The Muscle, The Beets is emblematic of this. Phantom Planet Outlaws return to Earth with two superb cuts of blissed out machine music whilst Tr-One maintain the quality with an accomplished analogue assortment. Top Techno from this diverse Dublin imprint.
The Muscle, The Beets is available on Apartment.
