6 June 2010

Technasia 'Central' album review

Technasia Central, review, albumEvery now and then you think times have changed and someone new is doing the damage and then Technasia decide it's time for another album.

Technasia, aka Charles Siegling, drops Central at a time when even revered artists like Joris Voorn feel a little bit routine and shows that he's lost none of the skills shown on 2006's brilliant Popsoda LP. Central is full of straight-up dance floor material along with a few slow burning gems which may con you into thinking they're filler at first but could end up in your crate for ages.

The skill here is in funky rhythm-tracks on par with the best by the likes of classic Masters at Work meshed with Detroit-esque swirling synths/basslines which result in music which is edgy, hypnotic and 'hooky' without ever being obvious. Very few producers manage such quality once let alone track after track as here.

Like all great artist albums the appeal here isn't just the concepts but also in the execution, the intricate nuances and soul which shine through here in spades. As an album this is a rare treat - it's both highly artistic with varied influences/moods, and yet almost the entire album is still club playable.

Central shows again why Technasia is one of the biggest talents in modern electronic music. Expect this to end up in most best-of lists for 2010.

Technasia 'Central' moments:
review, Charles Siegling, Technasia Central
'Movement' (co-produced by Dosem) is pretty much a benchmark for the right balance between being forward-thinking and having dance floor appeal. Taking a superb rhythm and a hint of early Inner City style synth vibes makes it sound all so simple. You feel like you've heard this track hundreds of times before.

'Again' has the loopy, bouncy deep bassline groove you need to hear on an album like this. It has a sort of techno version of Pete Heller 'Big Love' kind of quality - simple, hooky and with an instantly classic feel.

'Voyager Eternals' is probably my favourite moment on the album - not because it's the biggest but because it is one of those understated hypnotic grooves which get overlooked by so many but will screw with people's sanity at 5am in a dark club.

'No Fear' could have be called French Kiss 2010 - it's a dubby, hypnotic loop morphed and tweaked over the length of the track. No flash in the pan ideas, just a raw groove.

Technasia found the time to remember the jazz influence in techno with 'Music To Watch The City Lights Late At Night' - a laid-back space jam which wouldn't be out of place in a nu-disco set.

Out now on Technasia Records.
Buy it at Junodownload

1 comment:

Ellie said...

I was lucky enough to stumble over this at my local record shop. I'm even luckier to be able to listen to music at work because I've not moved since I put it on.

It is immense.