2012 Singles Reviews #1: Photek & Pinch – Acid Reign & M25FM

Single released by Photek Productions, Mar. 12, 2012.

No doubt, any long-time electronic music fan saw this news hit a few months back and immediately started thanking the music gods. It’s not hard to see why either! Photek and Pinch are two of the most respected producers in their fields. Photek’s drum and bass productions from the 90s have earned him critical praise throughout, while his recent house, hip-hop, and movie soundtrack projects have brought him to mainstream prominence, including a Grammy nomination for his contribution to the Tron: Legacy soundtrack. Pinch has been one of the leaders of the dubstep genre, forming Tectonic Records in 2005, and releasing his and other producer’s influential works, including the massive Qawwali, still one of dubstep’s most recognized tunes. It is safe to say that without these two gentlemen, many of today’s EDM artists would not have the platform they have today.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that this collaboration single exceeds any expectations we may have put on it. Each producer puts their stamp on their respective tracks, but with a heavy influence from the other. Acid Reign and its off-kilter, old school dubstep beat should be familiar to many fans, each element perfectly placed and boasting the heavy dub influence many of the old guard proudly display. This serves as an excellent backbone for the rolling, thundering bass lines, distant vocal pieces, and airy synths that make up the meat of this track. For those folks who like to complain about “what those kids did to our dub music”, Pinch keeps it decidedly old styled like he usually does. The heavy use of percussion and vocal samples, along with those beefy bass lines, should satisfy any dubstep fan, but particularly the older heads. M25FM shifts gears, taking the listener into Photek’s world of atmospheric, groovy dance tunes. Once again he showcases his flair for haunting backdrops, swirls of synths and simple melodies weave in and out behind a driving acid bass line akin to the ones he used in many of his 2011 productions (like Avalanche and 101). Photek has done an excellent job transitioning into the world of dubstep, this track being an example of Rupert’s ability to take a genre and bend it to his style. It’s unmistakeably Photek, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find other producers who make similar tunes.

Fans of these two heavyweights are hoping this is a small taste for greater things to come. If not, the two legends have delivered a solid 10 minutes of heavy bass and groovy beats that should satisfy most of those who want a little more bass in their life. It’s also a great testament to these producers’ quality and staying power, two producers who continue to reinvent themselves even though the always-evolving EDM scene threatens to leave them behind. Who knows what the next big trend will be? It won’t matter to these two, I think we can count on them to deliver the goods no matter what style they try.

Support the artists!

Buy on Beatport: http://www.beatport.com/release/acid-reign-m25fm/875527

Photek Official: http://photek.fm/
Photek @ Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Photek
Photek @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhotekMusic
Pinch/Tectonic Official: http://www.tectonicrecordings.com/
Pinch @ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinchTectonic

2012 Album Review #1: Mgła – With Hearts Toward None

Album released by Northern Heritage Productions. Feb. 28, 2012.

Polish band Mgła (pronounced migWAH) returns to the black metal fray with their first album in four years, With Hearts Toward None. While their debut album, Groza, borrowed heavily from the mid-paced Norwegian school of black metal (think Burzum, Satyricon, and Gehenna), this new album follows the blueprint of the band’s first few recordings, the Presence, Mdłosci, and Further Down the Nest EPs.

The first thing you will notice is the warm, clear, analog production job that recalls their early material, a departure from the dark, dissociating production of their debut album. This production style suits the band well, as their Darkthrone-inspired riff work meshes well with the full sound the album possesses. The band’s tremolo riffing is probably one of the best I’ve heard in the genre, proudly honoring the duo, but adding a bigger melodic presence, giving the sections they’re used in a big boost. The drumming is powerful and concise, never skipping a beat and seamlessly transitioning between fills and patterns. The patterns themselves are of particular note, drummer Darkside does an excellent job trading off between cymbals, riding an excellent groove, or pounding the drums with the fury of the gods during Mgła’s devastating blast beat sections. The guitars and drums compliment each other very well, a sign that the two gentlemen involved with this project (yet another nod to Darkthrone) have been playing together for ages. Each riff lasts the right amount of time, every drum pattern fits the guitar mold perfectly. It’s difficult to keep a listener’s attention with a black metal record, but these two gents pass that test with flying colors.

Fans of the Norwegian school of black metal should feel right at home here, as well as fans of the Orthodox black metal movement (Deathspell Omega, Katharsis, and the like). Featuring powerful tunes and an impressive sound, Mgła’s album is one of the highlights of the early part of 2012.

Rating (out of 5): 4