Opening track Anxiety lays the foundation for the rest of the record with it’s dark underlying groove building nicely. There’s no denying it – this is most definitely techno. It’s a track that transmits a great deal of atmosphere and shuffles along with vigour.
Paul Mac’s remix of Anxiety establishes itself as a true techno classic with a funky bass-line that gives the track it’s own stomp and liveliness that would go down well in any set.
Forward Strategy Group on the other hand have managed to turn Anxiety on it’s head, while still maintaining a smidgen of the track’s groove. They toggle around all the atmosphere and sharp production they’re known for and deliver a true techno assault.
Mark Rogan’s other original production Paranoia is a whopper of a tune. Combining deepness with chaotic tension, it’s the tune I feel that most defines his sound and sees both Bass Moy and Jerome Hill taking different routes on remix duties.
Bass Moy adds a touch of his industrial flavour to Paranoia offering up some heavy snares and crass noise that breezes in and out solidly and quite frankly scares the shit out of me! Which is a good thing!
In contrast, Jerome Hill’s take on Paranoia is more hectic, with disjointed blips and bleeps making way for a pummelling bass that will refuse to get out of your head.While probably more known for his DJ skills, he’s a top notch producer in his own right that definitely lays down the most interesting arrangement.
As I said, this is most definitely techno and in it’s finest form. Mark Rogan managed to create two tracks that are more than capable of standing on their own to feet and with each producer on remix duties adding a nice touch to either track. With this only the début release for the label, I’m extremely looking forward to what else they have in store because no doubt it’ll be quality!
Available from download from the 9th July.