Inigo Kennedy At Juno Download

Review: Like Downwards back catalogue, there is something bleakly industrial yet alluring about "Manifesto". Boasting a title that sounds like it could have been named after a Throbbing Gristle project, the mood here is abrasive and unforgiving. The brilliantly named Death Abyss deliver dark breaking techno, with corrosive riffs unfolding over lurching drums. Meanwhile Sagae's "No Way Out" features harsh beats and a slamming rhythm, while the ghostly chords suggest that a supernatural force is at play. Thankfully, Inigo Kennedy delivers some light relief: while it would be difficult to describe "Pakkanen" as mellow, its mournful melodies and lithe, metallic rhythms are in contrast to the punishing soundtracks that preceded it.

Review: Inigo Kennedy discards with the deepness shown on recent EPs for some thoroughly dirty techno on his latest EP for Token. Heavily road tested on his worldwide DJ travels, "Revenge" and "Scatter" operate on different levels, with the former building layers of dubby rhythms over the foundation worrying drums. It's peak time business which contrasts with "Revenge", a dystopian trawl through skittering percussion, IDM soundscapes and bass that sounds fit to burst. Remix duties are undertaken by perma busy Blawan, commissioned to tweak "Revenge" after Kennedy realized the two had a mutual appreciation. As with the recent productions from the SoYo hero, this is brutal techno dominated by those unique drum sounds.

Review: Having played an integral part in the early UK techno scene, Inigo Kennedy returns to Belgium's Token imprint to deliver an old school sounding piece of experimental techno. Twisted melodies, wonky rhythms, subtle FX and a light industrial atmosphere give the track an early Warp feel but it maintains a modern day sentiment through some slick production. Marcel Dettmann gets hold of the remix, readying "The Shard" to take on a long, dark and smokey night at Berlin's Berghain.