Back Catalogue

Review: Sandwell District and Aril Brikha are among the most respected producers in their respective fields of techno, but it's not hard to believe that they felt some sense of trepidation when they were asked to remix Octave One, or that they approached the task at hand with caution. The adage 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it', probably flickered through their minds on occasion and if it did, it was with good reason. Octave One aka brothers Lenny and Lawrence Burden were among the first Detroit techno acts to make their name outside their hometown, and it is the act's breakout track, "I Believe", from 1990, which Sandwell District are tasked with reworking. Sandwell's version is respectful; anchored in tight, shuffling beats, they add layer upon layer of atmospheric soundscapes making the vocal sound muffled, almost ghostly, but without detracting from the original's sense of wonder. "Daystar Rising" is taken from perhaps the pinnacle of Octave One's career and was originally released as a split EP with Rolando and Mad Mike. Once again, the treatment is respectful and understated. Departing from his trademark deep techno sound, Brikha simply adds a tougher, acidic bass to the brothers' rolling rhythms and makes the chords sound slightly more eerie. It's a skilful edit with enough subtle changes to make a difference.

Review: It's easy to dismiss Italian producer Obtane as being too serious. While his releases on Zooloft bear truly strange names, there is no doubt that he makes arresting, at times disturbing music. For much of Garden, he focuses on the abstract and textured - indeed "Sonic Entomology" is little more than a series of outer space bleeps and blips. Obtane follows it with "Mescaline Garden Hose", where a wash of growling noise is eventually transformed into kicking drums and powerful bassy belches. Obtane returns to familiar Zooloft territory on "Opium Vision" and "Inner Absorption"; stripped back and droning, the intense pulsing basslines house eerie acid licks and mysterious, half-heard mumbling vocals.