- Activ-Analog is a North Carolina-based artist collective formed in '96. They have sporadically released solo and collaborative records on their vinyl-only Activ-Analog Records. Most recently, that's included the eponymous debut 7-inch from Lady Fingers and a 12-inch of reissued tracks from Activ-Analog's first two Night Shift EPs. Activ-Analog have kept a low profile for over 20 years, which makes these four new tracks for Lisbon label Assemble Music surprising. Nonetheless, Undertow is a delight. The music is culled from live jam sessions and tweaked on the fly, and though the results are more experimental, this is pristine club music with soul and groove.
"Undertow" is an acid tune with a haunted underbelly, while "Traction Time" is more punchy and driven by clean synth lines, serrated percussion and taut bass. "Lifeline" is the wonkiest of the lot, with slightly dissonant chords that are weird but not unpleasant. "Technoid" combines the best of all three: the dark thrust of "Traction Time," the machine ghosts of "Undertow" and the curious posturing of "Lifeline."
TracklistA1 Undertow
A2 Traction Time
B1 Lifeline
B1 Technoid