Review: Man 2.0 aka Mark Bailey returns with a distinctive EP. Echoes of acid and ebm are audible on the rumbling, menacing groove of "Paperclip Theory". He follows a different path for the title track; while the 303 is still audible, it is more intense, with gurgling acid lines dominating the stripped back rhythm. "You Turn To Stone" has a more epic sensibility. Built on a foreboding, throbbing groove and featuring stroboscopic synth lines, its crashing snares and spine-tingling builds are sure to set it apart from other techno tracks. Shifting gear once again, he drops the low-slung electronic disco of "Vantablack". Blavatsky & Tolley maintain this sound on their vocoder heavy remix of the title track. Meanwhile, Ed Tomlinson's take on "Vantablack" resounds to frosty synth lines.
Review: Since debuting on Roam Recordings in 2018, Tronik Youth prot?g? MAN2.0 (real name Mark Bailey) has only released a handful of singles, despite the immense promise of his earliest outings. 'Red Shift', his welcome return to action, is undoubtedly inspired - a throbbing, pulsating, metallic and muscular affair which peppers a mid-tempo, post-EBM groove with cascading melodies and undulating lead lines. Fittingly mentor Tronik Youth delivers the first rework - a darker, new beat-influenced throb-job - before a wealth of rising stars provide their own revisions. There's not enough space to discuss them all, but we'd suggest checking out the breezy, acid-flecked Balearic nu-disco flex of the Mindbender remix, the breakbeat-driven electrofunk tweak from The Machine Soul, and the Hot Streak inspired cheeriness of Jezzebell's EP-closing rework.
Review: The fourth compilation on Sulk Magic starts in style with "Shrimp Daddy", a dark, chugging piece of electronic disco from label owner Bird of Paradise. It sets the tone for the rest of the collection; Dead Love Embargo drops the low-slung "Transmutation", while Emile Strunz and Kolomensky both venture down an electro-influenced route on the acid-soaked "Casual Violence" and brooding "Raving Raven" respectively. There are some lighter moments, most notably on Dharma's shimmering Italo contribution, "A Quick Passing" and the textured ambience of Stove's "Ocean Loom", but overall the mood is designed for sweaty basements - a feeling that is expertly captured by Ian Blevins' "Fleshworld", a throbbing, rumbling piece of electronic disco.
Review: Nein regular Man 2.0 makes his bow on Roam Recordings with some musical musings on "The Absolute Pain of Not Being In Your Arms". Contrary to the poignant title, the title track is something of an angular, mind-altering throb-job, with waves of trippy, modular-sounding electronics rising above a sweaty, all-action machine rhythm. Jason Peters' remix is a little less frenzied, with the producer re-casting the track as a pulsating, post-Italo chugger. Man 2.0's Italo-disco influence comes to the fore (alongside the ubiquitous Loon bird sample so beloved of late '80s dream house producers) on the hypnotic and suitably cosmic "Saline", which sounds like early Lindstrom after a trip to Rimini. That comes accompanied by an arguably even better interpretation from FLXXX that's altogether bouncier and sleazier.
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