Structure - The Black Smoke FLAC

One of the many, many classics of UK's awesome techno movement of the nineties. This four tracker has a cut on it for every occasion. A1 is simply insane. It's the type of a courageous production from an era when clubbing was about breaking boundries and techno music was its soundtrack. This one has over the top cricket chirps, or something, loud as you'd be allowed to record, running at a neck breaking pace, creating a sensation of untamable nervousness and endless tension. The fact there are no breaks or hints at toning it down, only adds to the notion that this is a goliath slice of vintage, untamable techno. You will feel as though your head was inserted into a swarm of raving bees, with the volume up and all. Anyways, do check it, this stuff is mental.
A2 heads in another direction. A subaquatic effort, with loose, off beat percussion and experimental sounds of sorts. It hints at some of the later, more "out there" projects and collaborations the resepctive maker would be involved in. With its hazy drive and unconventional drum programing, the music is still on a highly - if you will - freestyle tip, as it sounds like it's not here to conform to any expectations. Which makes it all the more great. Both tracks on the A side have a strong "dare-do" approach to production, and it pays off. As atypical they are, they pack a dose of sincere energy and originality many seem to have lost in their search of recognition or pleasing dance floor demands.

B1 is, quite simply, a banger. One of those tunes you'll wave your fist to, endlessly. A proper, back to basics UK techno workout. Head nodding bass, perfectly pitched four on the floor rhythm and a spherical bass line keeping it all nice, round and beefed-up. Perfect techno ammunition. Goes with anything uptempo, dark, percussive and, urm, true to the form. You could probably rock this one on repeat, tapping your feet, for half an hour and would not notice. It has that timeless 'thump', and a reduced, restrained drive that time does not have a patch on. Bang it.
B2 is an interlude, and you are in need of one following the previous three tunes. Again coated in densely layered, off kilter drums, it is further embellished by various shakers and an organic loop that impatiently ticks along during the track's entire running time. Puzzling, to say the least.

Anyways, this is one of the very few records produced by Richard Polson himself. For those of you who don't know, Richard Polson is the founder of Surface Records, one of the finest techno imprints to have emerged from Europe, and is also one half of the highly respected production duo The 65D Mavericks. So what you have here is one half of that project delivering a solo effort on his own amazing power plant. I hope that's all the convincing you need. Indispensable.