Tessela - POLY002

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  • Nearly three years after his label debuted with the massive "Hackney Parrot," Ed Russell has revived Poly Kicks for a second 12-inch from his Tessela alias. POLY002 is surely a far cry from 001, and also has little in common with the burly, electro-charged hardcore simulacrums on each subsequent record. Russell takes a more refined approach to these two marriages of techno and UK club music, favoring rhythms wound tight as clockworks, and ticking away just as efficiently. Careful not to lose sight of Tessela's best qualities, he's made sure to pack it all in with jungle's considerable bass weight. What's great about POLY002 is how Russell makes the most of such economical arrangements, using a razor-sharp production sense to write tunes that feel complex and straightforward at once. The biggest wallop comes from "Tenner Eclipse," the B-side roller that gets right into its rumbling low-end and stays there. Over a heavy rhythm of quaking kicks, fast-snapping snares and wobbly bass synths, Russell drops in sprightly hi-hats to keep the groove light and loose. You could imagine it working well for Livity Sound and Ostgut Ton DJs alike. Though that's not to underestimate the skittish "Luv Mix": that one has a measure of punchy sub hits about halfway through that you'll desperately want Russell to revisit. He doesn't, and that's fine—just add it to the reasons to put POLY002 back on again.
  • Tracklist
      A Luv Mix B Tenner Eclipse
RA