- UK techno-inspired bombs from the Glasgow-based duo.
- What do General Ludd make, exactly? Though they once described their DJing as "borderless," it's more helpful to think of the Glasgow-based duo's EPs as quadripoints, on which you'll find, say, anthemic disco house, a Soundhack-style tool, and some gummy hand-drum rhythms. Lately, they've seemed inspired by techno. On 2017's White Ghost, they tried out a couple of bassy UK techno cuts, and that roughneck vibe also ran through their last EP, for Belters. RAD-LUDD2, their second 12-inch for Rubadub's white label series, tunnels more deeply into the sort of low-end sound design madness found on this year's Timedance compilation, Patina Echoes.
RAD-LUDD2's excellent A-side skims some recognisable zones. "Marraskuu"'s synthetic whistles and laser pings are suspended in woody drums and a midrange goo that echo Fourth World descendants like RAMZi. The sleepy pitter-patter of "Restraint" takes the baton from the pared-down bass experiments on some recent Hemlock EPs. The EP's biggest surprise arrives midway through "Hit Count." The duo introduce a clock rhythm amid ear-piercing missile-launch squeals, snare pile-ons, emergency sirens and walkie-talkie chat. It's as though they've tried to restore order from some remote HQ, but the ticks and tocks soon fade into the chaos of everything else. Compared with all that, "Catastrophe" may not seem that impressive. It's essentially a drum track that bobs up and down a water line of reverb. The pale smears of chord and echo give it just enough character to keep it afloat.
TracklistA1 Marraskuu
A2 Restaint
B1 Catastrophe
B2 Hit Count