Sandwell District At Juno Download

Review: The debut Sandwell District finally arrives in the digital domain. The US-UK collective, comprised of Regis (Karl O'Connor), Function (Dave Sumner), Silent Servant (Juan Mendez) and Female (Peter Sutton), have hit a raw nerve with their dark, cerebral sound that has been cultivated by the meeting of some of the genre's most singular minds. This version Feed Forward differs slightly from the original vinyl release, but still includes the three majestic parts of "Immolare", with a robust techno throb sandwiched by an intro/outro of atmospheric synth rhythms and barely-there vocals. The main body is dominated by a particularly abrasive sonic hook, which takes you through the darkest of tunnels before re-emerging into the light once the beat drops out and the gentle synths return to the fore. Things toughen up on the flip, with "Grey Cut Out" dropping straight into a demented broken beat, before "Falling The Same Way" offers the LP's most emotive moment, with abrasion swapped for warmth - gentle snare hits, occasional bleeps and another delicious analogue melody provide the rhythmic foundation. The overall result is one of the best techno albums in a very, very long time.