- JoeFarr has done decent work with banging techno. After debuting on Turbo in 2012, he's found a kindred spirit in Power Vacuum's sinewy havoc and delivered one of the more tousled records on Hypercolour sublabel Hype_LTD. There was also one for Leisure System, a collaboration with Martyn Hare on Leyla Records and a track for Brothers, "Perihelion," produced with Witch. The Position EP, for his ONNSET label, is also worth mentioning. That one offered more of a sleek and driving sound, despite it being apiece with Farr's resplendent and stinging output.
But as the Llarose EP was keen to point out, Farr "don't only make techno you know." And on Sense Of Purpose, his first album, for Bloc., he's tried to leave the familiar behind. "I've always battled with my musical output," Farr told me over email. "So many artists I see and admire have a more focused and specific sound, but I've never been able to stick one thing." These tracks span a period of about five years, so in some ways they're the run-off to everything we've ever heard from Farr.
It all starts well enough. "RPM (Dedication) Beatless" builds anticipation for a trance-techno tear-out that never comes—instead, we get "Post Bloc," a twinkly synth number that gurgles and fizzes. Then comes the album's most obviously Warp-indebted track, "Halftone," which sounds like an update on Artificial Intelligence. Two bass-driven broken beat cuts come next: "Careless" and "AM05" carry the heavyweight poignancy and iridescence of robust IDM.
Not until halfway through Sense Of Purpose is there any sign of Farr's usual fare. "Coping Mechanism"'s bold kicks and wailing sirens pose the illusion of a riot, albeit a tame one. "Crunk" is by far the noisiest and most rambunctious effort here, but we've heard him do so much more damage. Then "I Might Just Do That" begins with another nod to '90s trance, before delving into something more brash and contemporary. Those noisy clanks and snarling digital riptide are kept under wraps, before "Asleep" draws the record to an bleary-eyed close.
For someone like Farr, who's known to hit the dance floor with force, Sense Of Purpose comes off a little too mild and unassuming. But there's joy to be found in its curious and coddling moments. Take "Blacklisted," which coos and chirps with alien song until swooping ambience washes over it, or "Minehead," which does a total 180 on itself—all dark and gnarled in the beginning, flush with colourful chords by the end. Farr has proven there's more to him than bangers, but Sense Of Purpose is best when sticking to his strengths.
Tracklist01. RPM (Dedication) Beatless
02. Post Bloc
03. Halftone
04. Careless
05. AM05
06. Coping Mechanism
07. Blacklisted
08. Minehead
09. Crunk
10. I Might Just Do That
11. Asleep