MUSIC ARTICLE: What I'm Listening To Now

I've been listening to a lot of techno lately. I listen to a ton of electronic music in general, but not all of it falls under what is rigorously defined as “techno” (and that definition is a lot like pornography- you may not be able to describe it, but you know it when you see/hear it). Two techo records in particular have really caught my attention in the past couple weeks, so I thought I’d share them with you. They’re Sandwell District’s final album “Feed Forward” and Kangding Ray’s new album “Solens Arc.” Feed Forward is a record that absolutely demands to be played at high volume. It’s music that was designed for the club, meant for giant PA systems and apocalyptic subwoofers. If you listen to it on crappy speakers or headphones, it sounds tinny, indistinct, and overrated considering the critical acclaim that accompanied its release. I certainly didn’t see what all the fuss was about for the first six months I owned the album, until one long night drive, where I randomly put it on my car stereo and turned the volume way up to keep myself awake. It was a revelation. New textures I had never heard before suddenly sprung to life. Sounds that previously registered only as boring noise were revealed to be fascinating textures. And above it all was that absolutely pummeling 4/4 rhythm, nondescript at reasonable volume but all-consuming, even ritualistic, at decibel levels previously reserved for airport runways. Every track on the album has its own treats to offer, but my personal favorite is the opener “Falling the Same Way.” The blooming chord melody is a masterpiece of mixing and sound design, and the track as a whole perfectly encapsulates Sandwell District’s blackened, shadowy aesthetic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Z6F3bpW4A Kangding Ray’s newest album “Solens Arc,” on the other hand, immediately grabbed my by the hair and shouted “PAY ATTENTION.” It’s another dimly lit, menacing album, but where “Feed Forward” demands punishing volume and close listening in order to glean the most from it, “Solens Arc” is immediately accessible. Fans of Pantha Du Prince or Christian Löffler will find a lot to like in Kangding Ray’s more menacing version of their windchime-techno, “Evento.” Album standout “Amber Decay” features a brutally knocky kick drum pinning down an almost 90s-rave-esque bassline and melodic rhythmic elements. That kick drum sound in particular blows my mind, because on its own it would sound AWFUL, but in the context of the track it works perfectly. That’s quality mixing right there, folks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO40CaFEG5Y So there we have it- two very different albums that still manage to fall within the Venn diagram of “techno” and “menace.” Sandwell District’s is inscrutable at first but blossoms under the right conditions, like a flower that only blossoms at night. Kangding Ray’s is immediate and engaging, like someone picking a fight. I love ‘em both.