- Brilliant, classicist techno, electro and acid from one of LA's best-kept secrets, with a jaw-dropping remix from Detroit In Effect.
- Jason James is one of those hard-working DJs who, if you go out in their home base enough—in this case, Los Angeles—you've definitely seen them play. Cofounder of The Black Lodge series and a resident at Into The Woods, he takes a relatively old-school approach to techno and electro, mixing with aplomb and harbouring a taste for vintage-sounding beats. (Recent Black Lodge bookings like Claude Young and Traxx should give you an idea of the vibe.) Aerobicide is James's first release for EVAR, the label from Aura T-09 and John Frusciante, and easily his best, with four cuts of tough, compelling techno and electro backed by well-curated remixes from Martyn Bootyspoon, DJ Manny and Detroit In Effect.
Aerobicide begins with something of a feint. "Yeeks" feels unusually tender, featuring a haunting vocal sample over an eerie, crackly atmosphere. But the beat stomps, and the blasts of noise toward the end add a sinister edge to the otherwise airy proceedings. "Balloon Animals" ups the tempo into skippy acid techno where the squelch sounds almost noxious, and the snares threaten to box you in, all built around a sample that deadpans, "out of control," channeling vintage Adonis. On "Quartered," James shows off the kind of fidgety, unpredictable drum work that puts his work in conversation with classic Detroit records—check out those snares—while "Upsetter" is a slice of loose and playful breakbeat techno.
Each remix highlights the versatility of James' style of techno, but the Detroit In Effect effort is the clear winner, giving "Yeeks" a Motor City electro makeover. It hits all the right notes, with wistful pads that sound more mysterious and alluring than sad. DJ Manny lashes "Upsetter" with footwork drums and basslines for a wonderfully ramshackle cut that reminds me of the old Bangs & Works compilations, while Martyn Bootyspoon ratchets up the pressure on "Balloon Animals," with a heady build-up that emphasizes both the acid and James's clever drum programming. The best kind of remixes are the ones that highlight the brilliance of the source material. Aerobicide could be something of a breakthrough for a producer who has been plugging away in his own corner of the scene for years, and might be ready to start headlining other people's parties after a long time putting on his own.
Tracklist01. Yeeks
02. Balloon Animals
03. Upsetter
04. Quartered
05. Yeeks (Detroit In Effect Remix)
06. Ballon Animals (Martyn Bootyspoon Remix)
07. Upsetter (DJ Manny Remix)