Plastic - River Electric

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  • Plastic's River Electric is the latest reissue from Thule's timeless '90s catalogue. The Icelandic label, which first operated between 1995 and 2002, put out some of the best dub techno of all time during its initial run, only to return in 2013 due to renewed interest in its early releases. Plastic was a little-used alias of Aðalsteinn Guðmundsson, the artist best known as Yagya. Tougher than the atmospheric productions he would later make his name on, River Electric presents four dub techno bombs featuring the sense of adventure dub techno mostly left behind in the '90s. The dreamy "Translated Translations Translated" is around 136 BPM and features a twinkling melody and tape hiss floating over a pumping kick. An open hi-hat comes and goes until a clap boosts the energy halfway in. A mangled technoid breakdown—similar to those found in Anthony "Shake" Shakir's "Plugged In"—drags you underwater, before bringing you back to up with a series of bubbling Aphex Twin-style bleeps. "No Language" is the EP's most conventional track, with a jazzy bassline and a linear progression. "Most Unusual (Inner State)" is meaner and similarly driving, while "Brain Plasticity (Insect Edit)" and "River Electric" are scrambled with mind-bending panning and filtered chords. Is this dub techno or an acid trip?
  • Tracklist
      A1 Brain Plasticity (Insect Edit) A2 Translated Translations Translated A3 River Electric B1 Most Unusual (Inner State) B2 No Language
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