- In 1996, !K7 Records put out a collection of DJ trading cards. It included many of techno's stars of the moment, among them Sven Väth, Carl Cox, DJ Hell and Carl Craig. The cards listed the number of bookings each DJ had that year, the size of their record collection, the longest set they played and their general BPM. Only two—Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson—were below 130 BPM, while many of the others clocked in at over 135.
Dance music has taken its foot off the gas pedal since then, but the Ayni EP from the New York newcomer Buzzi makes a good argument for the resurgence of high-speed techno. All four tracks are hard, fast and repetitive, with references to the militant sound of early Jeff Mills or Surgeon. Where a lot of speedier stuff focuses on intensity at the expense of nuance, Buzzi balances both. "Protection" has a few interesting grooves going at once, and the killer mixing gives them room to interact, creating rhythmic shapes that shift subtly.
"Second Article" has a trippier energy, with disorienting synths needling their way into your brain. The Xiorro remix strips away the percussive subtlety, holding onto the track's Millsian bleeps while adding a chunky kick drum. A maxed-out arrangement of rattling percussion and detuned synths makes "Thermal" the most overwhelming cut. The relentless banging could use more dynamism, but it shifts enough to hold attention. Ayni is a promising debut for Buzzi, a producer who makes high speeds feel natural.
Tracklist01. Protection
02. Second Article
03. Thermal
04. Second Article (Xiorro Remix)