Sbtrkt / Objekt: Sbjekt#01 12" (Young Turks) I like SBTRKT (the bloke with the african mask). I like OBJEKT (dunno what he looks like). So imagine me squealing with delight when I hear these two come together as SBJEKT (geddit?). For what will be a techno face-off of gargantuan proportions. Actually it's not that tough, but they don't half dish out generous helpings of sub. The A-side just edges it with its euphoric synth elevations and bone-crunching rhythm programming. Made my joints creak.
STL: Nocturnal Mixdowns 2 x 12" (Something) Was a rushed visit to Honest Jon's Records in Ladbroke Grove. Had one of those brief bromances with the guy behind the counter when we realised we had respective stiffies for all things bass. So in his effort to woo me, he made me buy this. Initially I hated it, to the point that I was considering a trek back to West London and asking for my money back, no matter how stupid I looked. But after a while I let it slide and this just got dumped along with all the other anonymous looking twelves marked 'faceless techno'.
That was way back in January 2009 and I've only just now managed to get over my indifference to STL's efforts and appreciate his unique take on drum-machine abuse. The seven tracks all shift and propel as the titles and blacker-than-black palette suggest, but its the muffled acid pulse meets scratchy dub of 'The Taphead' that steals it. I've since atoned for my sins and have now downloaded everything this man has done.
Powell: The Ongoing Significance Of Steel & Flesh 12" (Diagonal) Continuing techno's rather annoying pillaging of industrial music for track titles (I blame the Sandwell District lot) comes this. It's not bad, but nothing to blog about….the title track is like dark tribal shit that doesn't do much, '09' sounds like a really poor mans Pan Sonic. Even the presence of Karl Connor on remix duties does little to elevate this. Only the parting 'Robotics' perks things up before buggering off. Must try harder….natty packaging though.
