Review: Juan Rico is one of techno's great unsung artists. While most fans know him for his work as Reeko, it's the Spanish artist's material under the Architectural guise that really impresses. Spanning spaced out ambient, dub house and deep rhythmic techno, it always maintains a distinct identity. That sense of identity is clear on the club-based "3.1 (Low Version)" and "4.1 (Alternate Version)" on Reprises, as well as on the wonderfully expansive, jazzy groove on "Amour (Beach Version)", a new take on the title track of his 2015 album. Never content to remain in one place for too long, this release also veers from the wiry rhythms of "Cosmic Toys" and "Cubismo 8.3 (2020 version)" to the dramatic sound scapes of "Opera#9".
Review: Architectural is the side project of Juan Rico, better known in techno circles as Reeko. However, 2015's excellent Amour album as Architectural suggested that Rico's real talent lay in creating deeply atmospheric electronic music. That touch is audible on the hypnotic sound scapes of "Cubismo 8.2 (Lost in Buenos Aires 1)", but also bubbles beneath the surface on dance floor tracks like the frazzled tribal groove of "Cubismo 8.1". On "Cubismo 8.3", Rico follows a tunneling techno route, but in the main he impresses most when adopting a more reflective approach. "Cubismo 8.4 (Lost in Buenos Aires II)" resounds to shimmering chords and the "Cubismo 8.5 (Lost in Buenos Aires II)" is fizzy ambience of the highest order.
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