Tang is not recreating the wheel here, but he is making techno that has a touch of the golden age to it. This is techno that adheres to a vintage sound, dripping in Detroit influences with rich analogue undercurrents and some firm 808 and 909 beats.
[Emphasis shop] Emphasis Recordings has been on the go since 1998, with Steven Tang (aka Obsolete Music Technology) at the helm. Tang has used the label as a platform for his own brand of techno but after a busy couple of years releasing on the likes of Aesthetic Audio, Machining Dreams and Eargasmic it appeared Emphasis Recordings was for the shelve. Not the case. 2011 signals the re-awakening of the Chicago label and once again Tang is at the forefront, this time with Bass Synergy.
The title track opens the 12” and, despite having quite a cheesy name, is a robust piece of techno. The listener is drawn in with vintage beats before a lush melody is unveiled, warm and aching with Detroit. The background is bathed in autumnal analogue tones but the beats aren’t timid and do have a floor feel. “Drone” is a slow builder but with a bit of bass meat on its bones. Gradually the track develops into a well rounded piece of floor techno which is quite minimal but has a decent clout to it. “Synchronized” sees out Tang’s return to his home label. The track is a heady piece of techno, deep bass and subtle beats coming together before a plink plonk melody and strings arrive. The track feels more like a piece of UK techno, echoing the earthy and wholly electronic tones of some GPR material or Stasis. A quality ending.
Tang is not recreating the wheel here, but he is making techno that has a touch of the golden age to it. This is techno that adheres to a vintage sound, dripping in Detroit influences with rich analogue undercurrents and some firm 808 and 909 beats. Emphasis back up and running with a solid three tracker to get the ball rolling again.
Bass Synergy is out now on Emphasis. [Emphasis shop]
