- Techno's connection to post-punk and industrial has flown slightly under-the-radar in the past few years, but a full-fledged band release from two of the Sandwell District boys on Downwards last year and Raudive's debut release on Wires may be a sign of a reengagement with the genres. Ho's experimental tendencies as Raudive are well-known by now. Of late, he's released pinprick minimalist techno via Macro and judiciously sampled Laurie Anderson for an anthemic ode to a "Christmas Tree" on Poker Flat.
It continues with Total Pure, but the results are far different than those more straight-ahead efforts. "Birth," which begins the release, sounds like an unreleased This Heat outtake, melting groaning noisy drones over a plodding beat. "Total Pure" finds itself closer to the dance floor, but has the same deadpan vocalist as the opener uttering echoed words every so often to ensure that the queasiness never goes away. "Tunnel" also seems normal...until the descending Atari pilot drops his bomb at the end of every few bars. It's distracting and enchanting in equal measure, unlike "Entrance" which closes things out as the release started: What sounds like a delayed guitar arrives on an irregular schedule, in a subtle reminder of how (post-) punk techno could be if producer's more often chose experiments over experience.
Tracklist 01. Birth
02. Total Pure
03. Tunnel
04. Entrance