- Two generations of UK techno meet on this stunning EP.
- Two generations of UK techno meet on Step Into The Light, a collaboration between B12's Steve Rutter and John Shima. Rutter, of course, is a key figure in early UK dance music, responsible for dozens of timeless tracks balancing IDM's complexity with the rolling grooves of techno. Shima, a Sheffield-based producer who's been releasing music since 2009, is less known but pushes a similarly lush sound, grounded in the spacey aesthetic of the era Rutter helped shape. Step Into The Light captures the best of this dazzling sound, presenting four techno tunes loaded with melody.
These tracks are probably best heard away from the dance floor. They're deep and intricate, more for the mind than the body. Take "A New Day," the track that would be the easiest to play out. There's a steady four-on-the-floor chug, but the kick drum is dulled by the pads and dense atmospherics, which envelop the beat like fog. Bleeps in the midrange add an flash extra colour, precisely the kind of considered, minor detail that light up mellow tracks. The slo-mo "Disjointed Route" is deeper still, another artful blend of atmosphere and groove. It's a timeless combination, and yet further proof that Rutter and Shima are quietly making some of the best dance music around.
TracklistA1 Broken Spell
A2 Skywards
B1 A New Day
B2 Disjointed Route