ANGUILLA ELECTRICA
Tresor.
Electronic, Minimal Techno, Dark Ambient.
Listening Format: CD
June 2017 seems to be the month of big comeback records in Electronic music, as Gas, Goldie and now Porter Ricks have all released albums after nearly 20 years of absence. Porter Ricks consists of the duo of Andy Mellwig and Thomas Koner. They last released a collaborative album with Techno Animal (Justin Broadrick and Kevin Martin) back in 1999 before vanishing. Thomas Koner is known as one of the most influential Dark Ambient and Drone producers of the 90s, but Porter Ricks allowed him to get closer to the Berlin club scene, combining his meticulous sound designs with pounding bass heavy, minimal techno beats.
Despite having such a colourful album sleeve, 'Anguilla Electrica' channels that darkness that they are known for. Porter Ricks very much has that Tresor and Berlin Techno kind of sound, with four-to-the-floor kick drum beats leading many of the tracks on this record. The compositions slowly envelop, inducing the listener into a hypnotic trance. The bass sounds in particular are much more thumping than some of their 90s work, especially on their 1996 debut album 'Biokinetics'. This comeback record is a far more immediate work, built on six songs running just over 40 minutes in total. In particular 'Scuba Rondo' is one of the most in your face and energetic tracks in their entire discography, channeling Polygon Window era Aphex Twin. 'Prismatic Error' harks back to that earlier sound by being the slowest and eeriest track here and definitely my favourite. The track runs on a very slow pulsing, off kilter beat, as Thomas Koner's scraping and clanging sounds prove that he is still a master in subtlety in music production. This one is especially reminiscent of something Autechre might have done on their 'Chiastic Slide' LP.
As a whole I am really digging 'Anguilla Electrica'. Releasing a Minimal Techno album with a relatively concise running time is certainly a wise idea, making it a breeze to listen to. Yet even listeners who are well versed in Minimal Techno acts such as Surgeon, Plastikman and The Field will still find this album to be a positively challenging experience. There is such a good emphasis on atmosphere and texture, with very complex mixing and sound design that we've come to expect. My biggest complaint is that I wish the actual beats were as adventurous as the incredible glitchy and abstract synths and effects that they are carrying. Aside from the aforementioned 'Prismatic Error', the beats here are fairly standard for the genre and rather predictable. I just wish the beats would go as abstract as the other sounds that Koner is experimenting with. In particular they are mixed much more prominently than their older material, lacking that spaced out vibe. This album is also much more immediate and polished in terms of production than their 90s heyday material. I feel like those who really dug 'Biokinetics' will find that this release is a little bit too linear and not as overwhelming and hypnotising as on classic tracks such as 'Port Gentil'. Even so, Porter Ricks have delivered a very satisfying reunion album that has enough quality material to stand as one of the better Electronic albums of the year. If you genuinely like your techno music to be dark and haunting, you've come to the right nightmare. 7/10.
No comments:
Post a Comment