- Ukkonen makes gorgeous techno that feels sun-drenched but icy cold, a sound he presented fully-formed on his landmark 2012 debut, The Isolated Rhythms Of, and then confused on the uneven The Ancient Tonalities Of last year. Now he's returning to his original home, Uncharted Audio, for Change Time, an epic that recaptures the wide-open vistas of his best work.
"First Lunation" is Ukkonen at top strength. It has a grandiose swell, like techno played over a church organ, despite consisting of just a handful of elements. The easygoing, jazzy drum programming gives the illusion of gradually slowing and speeding up over its 11-minute journey. Essentially one long, sustained chord, it has echoes of drone music and modern classical, though any lingering feeling of musical academia is swept away during the track's rousing final minutes. The other side of the EP has three shorter tracks. "Tonal Syzygy" is another straightforward stunner, its uneven pulse softened by near-orchestral pads that ring out in the same syncopated patterns. "Agogic Helia" introduces live drums into the equation, giving the track an unpredictable feeling that's only emphasized by the twinkle of synths. It's this feeling of volatility that allows Ukkonen's music to transcend techno, becoming something more beguiling and otherworldly.
TracklistA1 First Lunation
A2 Tonal Syzygy
B1 Agogic Helia
B2 Change Time