- Midgar is a new techno label based in Berlin. Its first record, Junctions, comes from Wata Igarashi, a wide-ranging Japanese musician who these days is a key part of Tokyo's deep techno scene. The EP is dedicated to Dave Twomey—the much-loved artist behind the Tokyo party and label Mariana (which Igarashi was often a part of), who passed away last year—and it has Igarashi continuing to smooth out his style through four nuanced and atmospheric productions.
"Junctions" is anchored by two-beat syncopated drums and filled with fizzing drones and bubbling effects. It's mellow and contemplative, while "The Summon" on the flip turns up the intensity. This one features some sharp-edged cymbal and hi-hat work and an anxious offbeat rattle, making it the record's toughest, most floor-ready track. The other two tracks are pitched around 110 BPM. "Flare" is at first simple and spacious, little more than some loose 4/4 percussion and sparse melodic toots, but together a warm 303 riff and some exquisitely airy pads are gradually brought into the mix. If "Flare" seemed like it was cruising ever higher into the sky, "Hitodama" finishes the record by floating out into space among hazy beeps and woozy sci-fi sounds. But there is a destination, or at least a port of call, in one final buildup of evocative synths.
TracklistA1 Junctions
A2 Flare
B1 The Summon
B2 Hitodama