- Andrew Lyster, a resident and cofounder at the Manchester club night meandyou., is a quietly revered DJ, at least among the heads. His sets tend to have an experimental and occasionally dark edge, taking in obscure artists and flecks of post-punk, noise and industrial without becoming too heavy or drab. His new label's first release, a collection of grizzled techno from the overlooked Portland producer Yard, reflects his DJ style: punchy and loaded with subtle, eerie details.
Three of Void's tracks have been previously released, but they still sound fresh. The record's hardest tune, the gurgling "Marshall Acid," comes from a 2014 digital-only release, while "White Fog" and "Canopy" are from 2007. "White Fog" is particularly strong. Weird and vaguely mystical, it's a broken techno track slathered in delay that coasts on a didgeridoo-like bassline. That leaves the title track, Void's only previously unreleased production. It's a stunning post-punk-influenced slice of techno, full of ruddy drums and mucky bass. The track is in-tune with a lot of contemporary techno but feels more spacious and dynamic, with an unsettling atmosphere that might have something to do with Yard's use of field recordings.
TracklistA1 Void
A2 White Fog
B1 Canopy
B2 Marshall Acid