Echocord Colour Denmark At Juno Download

Review: Mike Dehnert arrives on the Echochord Colour series in the midst of a purple patch, having sported various takes on the glowering techno world he occupies, as anyone who has checked recent drops on his own Fachwerk and Clone Basement will testify! The EP opens in fine style with the guttural vocal intonations of "RGS2" cascading in sync with the gloopy bass hits, dragging you down a k-hole of despair until the rasping hi-hat procession arrives and a sense of industrial chaos grows. Flipside, "Bar2" operates around minute rhythmic deviations from the thick set groove - just wait for the sprawling synth line to coax more metallic hi-hat brilliance into action. Fellow Fachwerker Roman Lindau remixes "RGS2" into a growling, scratchy, heads down techno bump.

Review: Arne Weinberg goes undercover for this release on Danish label Echocord. The German producer has long been an exponent of deep Detroit techno and has released some stunning work on both his current label Diametric, and previous outlet AW. However, this moniker appears to be Weinberg's platform for making music inspired by developments closer to home. The title track is a rolling dub techno affair, its cavernous chords and strong rhythm, as well as Weinberg's subtle production, setting it apart from bog standard, echo chamber-loving releases. The introduction of a filter lends the track more momentum and means it doesn't have that plodding feeling that many contemporary dub techno tracks are blighted with. Berghain resident Norman Nodge provides the remix, which like many of his reshapes, is in stark contrast to the relentless techno that his sets are associated with. That said, a booming, oversized bass drum underpins the arrangement, but its slower tempo and the fact that it underscores enveloping chords means that it sounds ponderous rather than punishing. While Phosphor marks a diversion from his usual approach, "Innocence & Purity" suggests that he can't resist making melodic music: the reflective chords that emerge through the dusky, scuffled groove shows that Weinberg is a techno soul boy at heart.

Review: It would have been difficult to imagine an act as talented as Skudge indefinitely following the approach of their first few EPs. Indeed, as the Swedish duo told Juno Plus in our exclusive interview with them a few months back, their influences and more importantly, their ambitions stretch further than Basic Channel dub techno. That said, "Surplus" doesn't mark a radical change in style, nor does it herald an artistic volte face from the pair. What it does achieve rather craftily however is to subtly push the Skudge sound towards a more wide-ranging place. "Void" is more closely aligned to modern day sounds as its insistent keys build to an acid-tinged, filtered climax. It's Skudge's most accessible track to date and it is likely to appeal to DJs who so far have not played their releases. However, it is unlikely that Skudge will become the preserve of big-room house, something that is reinforced by the remix of "Void". Ironically, Conforce's version is the track most in keeping with the duo's original approach. Based on robust, dubby beats and powered by driving hats, the sick, underlying acid line is a reminder that Skudge's roots are still firmly planted in the underground. Excellent release.