- I've already said quite a bit about how German duo Phace & Misanthrop—and their Neosignal imprint—are doing a lot to bring credibility and experimentation back to tough-as-nails techstep. After bringing Alix Perez, Noisia and Rockwell into their fold, their label's tenth regular release is a victory lap of sorts.
First up is a collaboration between the duo. "Progression" sounds like halfstep with the bars somehow doubled up—sharp, staccato rhythm stabs are the order of the day, slyly dodging drum & bass's stodginess. Amidst the chaos of burning circuit boards and screeching basslines, listen carefully and you'll also hear the bleating of a saxophone, a cheeky little addition.
The flipside sees Phace out for a solo turn with "Systeme Mechanique," a track that with its barked vocal phrases recalls Rockwell's recent "Constantcomplexrhythmicsound." This time it's big, top-heavy synth chords that are at the centre of the track, scattering rubble around in the form of pummeling percussion. That the group can toy around with such gigantic, over-the-top sounds without descending into self-parody is only a further testament to their alchemy, turning the harsh into the pleasurable.
Tracklist A Progression
B Systeme Mecanique