The Spanish label has taken styles that complement one another, moving from electro into techno with some whispers of ambient and IDM in the brew. Reflections on Detroit, the UK and Europe are combined but not muddled together into an amorphous lump.
[Listen | Purchase] It’s been a full year since Madrid’s Transhuman Records went to the pressing plant. The Spanish imprint is interested in the the link between man and machine, and what better way to express that than through electronic music. Renaissance marks the labels third release, and in similar form to its predecessors the 12” is a mixed artist affair.
The Transhumans are up first with “Interdependence” and a solid techno sounds descends. Amongst running keys is an unmistakable depth, echoing the 90’s sounds of Detroit whilst having a serious UK influence in there; Red Planet meets early Warp. Vintage modern day techno. Up next is a veteran of the label, Arcanoid, who some may know for his releases on Semantica. “Edge” is a clinical electro affair, mechanical beats and industrial tones. One for fans of Cultivated Electronics or Frustrated Funk. He follows up with the heady beatless “Protozoo,” the reverse of “Edge.” The track is delicate ambience with clever analogue warbling, very Vangelis. Flip over for The Transhumans and “Venus Project,” a measured piece of techno with a dubby touch. To lead out the record is a newcomer, half of Sowing Paranoia from previous TR releases, EBE 1. First up from this débutante is the analogue richness of “Planetary Dimension.” The track adheres to many of the parameters of electro, but at its core it echoes with the depth of a vintage techno piece. This same emotive quality runs into the finale, “Requiem.” The influence of IDM pervades both the EBE 1 tracks, with “Requiem” coming from the 90’s analogue tradition of warm and structured electronics.
It can sometimes confuse a record when too many genres are attempted on one piece of wax. This isn’t the case on Renaissance. The Spanish label has taken styles that complement one another, moving from electro into techno with some whispers of ambient and IDM in the brew. Reflections on Detroit, the UK and Europe are combined but not muddled together into an amorphous lump. If you’re in the mood for some nostalgia, if you’re in the mood for some clever electro, if you’re in the mood for some deep techno; well you know where this is going. Understated and excellent.
Renaissance is out now on Transhuman. [Listen | Purchase]
