Article
2012 Artists' Picks

Albums
36
The Alvaret Ensemble
The Boats
Dadub
Day
Enduser / The Teknoist
Alejandro Franov
Christoph Funabashi
The Inventors Of Aircraft
Kostis Kilymis
krill.minima
Lau Nau
Madera Wind Quintet
Todd Matthews
Lubomyr Melnyk
okamononoriaki
The Outside Agency
Oyaarss
peterMann
Pleq + Philippe Lamy
Roach & Metcalf
SaffronKeira
Martin Schulte
Jay Shepheard
Tape Loop Orchestra
Techdiff
TM404
Yard

Compilations / Mixes
Darkroom Dubs Vol.3
Petre Inspirescu
Pop Ambient 2013
v-p v-f is v-n

EPs / Cassettes / Singles
Alis
Arkaik
Babi
Bee Mask
Bungle
drcarlsonalbion
Fescal
Fluorescent Heights
William Ryan Fritch
Greyghost
Junction 12
Lind and Loraine
Alessan Main
Martinez
Mikal
Show Me The Future
10 Yrs hhv.de 45 Vol. 10
Wolf Cub

Martinez: Kppont / Pygmalion
Memoria Music Group

A fine two-tracker on the Dutch imprint Memoria from Scandinavian producer Martin Swanstein under the Martinez name; add in a “Beats Dub” version of the second cut and you've got twenty-five minutes of crisp, bass-powered techno. The opening throwdown “Kppont” is clearly fashioned for club play, given its twelve, hard-grooving minutes of motorik bass thump and machine-styled percussive clatter, but its panning percussive accents make the track a satisfying headphones listen, too, even if that's clearly not its primary purpose. It's driving, minimal-minded techno that's fleet of foot and carefree in spirit, plus a complementary lead-in to “Pygmalion,” whose tribal, high-energy pulse jacks with a razor-sharp swing that's rather house-flavoured. There's lots happening to keep the wallflower listening—breathy accents, hand percussion, and a prominently featured lead bass—while the sweat pours off those more bodily engaged. “Beats Dub” is, naturally, a bonus, but it's still a nice riff on the original, especially when it moves the original's percussion and swishing hi-hats to the forefront.

February 2013