- Osaka's Koshiro Hino is a newcomer to the techno scene but has been involved with experimental electronics through his tape label, birdFriend. His work there, edging into drone and noise, runs the gamut from dark and clattering to looney and nearly danceable. What keeps it all together is Hino's rough touch and mutant sound palate. But as out-there as his past work may be, the producer fronts exceptionally well on his first release for Nous. Visions is aimed straight at the dance floor, holding onto Hino's off-kilter character throughout.
The A-side's three techno cuts could make any set trippy, and they just get better as they go. "Borei" throws syncopated blows, while the nicely disturbed "Doobidoob" stirs anxious, industrial shudders into some kind of sludge. For me, "Shadows" is the standout track. Its head-circling deepness and levitating synths enshrine a moment of dark euphoria.
On the B-side, "Holy Goof" is a beady techno track with spectral slashes, though it doesn't try to reach past its banger status. Likewise, closer "Smog" is simply a barren shuffle cloaked in haze. Regardless, all five tracks here are punishing and—riddled with Hino's strange sound design—delightfully distinct.
TracklistA1 Borei
A2 Doobidoob
A3 Shadows
B1 Holy Goof
B2 Smog feat. AKN