- Comb filtering, a production technique whereby two signals are played simultaneously with a slight delay, first appeared as a trippy trick used to give pop 45s a surreal edge in the '50s. And whether you call it flanging, phasing or wave guiding, by the end of the '60s, The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix had made it a must for psychedelic vocalists and pyrotechnic guitarists alike. Comb filtering is also at its best when applied to a thrashing drum machine, as evinced by everyone from Plastikman to L-Vis 1990. This single-sided release by Qnete, for the Bremen-based ZCKR imprint, is another resounding win for comb filter enthusiasts.
Though Qnete has proven himself capable of crafting woozy house for the likes of Lobster Theremin, he's equally adept at churning out Den Haag-esque pieces of deranged machine chatter. "Grey City Anthem" falls firmly in the latter category. It sounds like something Electronome or Rude 66 would've pumped out in a single take 20 years ago, and although its constituent elements—kitchen-sink drums, a delayed mono synth line and a raving pad—aren't troubling the originality scales, the comb filtering gives things a bonkers vibe that oozes energy. The production is staunchly rugged, but this tune is more versatile than you may think. It can be nicely pitched down into chugging EBM, or sped up to Drexciyan heights with equal success.
TracklistA Grey City Anthem