Perc
– The Power And The Glory (Perc Trax)
17
February 2014
LP/CD/DL
DJ and forward thinking techno producer,
Perc releases his second long player.
With his debut album, Wicker And Steel,
Perc (Ali Wells) crossed over into new and interesting areas for techno. Last years reworking of Einsturzende
Neubauten on the Stahldub EP saw him firmly establish himself as a true
original.
New album The Power And The Glory is no
exception, showing the Wells is also a true visionary and very unafraid to try
something different. So different in
fact, that on first listen the album really just sound like a mix-match of
sounds and beats and general fannying about in the studio. It’s on subsequent listens that it hits home
and the true skill and cleverness shine through.
As you’d expect from a techno producer,
there are some great rhythm tracks here.
Galloper throbs and stomps along with
additional cries and sampled sounds of crashing and broken glass – almost
Leftfield meets Chemical Brothers, but not quite.
There are also worthy stabs at
experimentation which gives the album the appealing edge over its contempories
– album opener Horse Gum is proof with a lonely, low-key soundscape of almost
horror movie proportions.
Dumpster flies into life right from the
opening beats with its funk-punk riffs and post-house basslines. Nik Colk of
Factory Floor adds vocals to the almost terrifying Speek, whilst Rotting Sound
and single Take Your Body Off feature the voice of Dan Chandler from
Dethscalator in a jolting buzz with piercing vocals which sees Perc revisit
classic techno with his own personal twist.
David & George is another cracking
bounce-along track with distorted sounds and an eerie laugh akin to the music
hating Blue Meanies from Beatles movie Yellow Submarine. Coincidence or a very clever reference and
addition?
Album closer A Living Sound further
confirms that Perc is a very uncompromising artist. A piano rises from the beginning, repeating
itself in a hypnotic loop and providing a landmark end to a great album.
8.5/10
Links
Published on Louder Than War 17/02/14 - here
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