90’s techno meets cutting edge minimal: Steve OSullivan’s latest re-issue ‘Green Trax’ finds its ideal home on Nina Kraviz’s esteemed label ‘трип’ [Trip Recordings].
Steve O’Sullivan’s ‘Green Trax’ on Trip Records is a substantial 13-track release of mesmerizing driving techno anthems. Each track would certainly be embraced by dancers at the largest of indoor European techno festivals like Awakenings, Neopop and Time Warp, while simultaneously maintain the potential to electrify the smallest of dank, dark club spaces anywhere in the world.
The hypnotic and intricate style of techno that has become synonymous with both Trip’s 7 year discography, as well as the iconic sound of label head Nina Kraviz herself, make ‘Trip’ an ideal home for O’Sullivan’s most recent album. Upon first listen, the project seems like it might have been tailor made for Trip, as it incorporates the futuristic use of dub inspired delays and wide-panning atmosphere that we can expect from O’Sullivan and Kraviz alike, but what may surprise you about the 13-track compilation is that each track is actually averaging at about 25 years old! It’s only until you listen to the track ‘Prásinos’ that the old-school style modular leads that are sprinkled throughout, begin to give the listener some clue as to the true age of these gems. Young producers who might typically scoff at the in-your-face sound of 90’s techno, may find themselves feeling bombarded with inspiration after basking in O’Sullivan’s inventive use of somewhat cliché minimal techno timbres as unusually understated components of otherwise complex and modern compositions.
The fifth track titled ‘Viridi’, is dark and daunting, brooding and ominous, while simultaneously incorporates a subtle intensity that can induce a welcome undertone of anxiety. The only thing one might consider “retro” sounding in this tune is the use of ambient pads that are heavily saturated with a classic flanger effect. But even this long forgotten sound is revitalized in this instance thanks to the painstakingly intricate automation used to provide variances in panning and filtering, which helps to break the monotony of an otherwise predictable electronic music trope. References to the past such as these give a measurable sense of depth and sophistication to the sound and feel to any modern techno record, a sense that a producer knows what they are doing and respects the genre’s origins. ‘Green Trax’ perfectly exemplifies this sophistication with each and every track.
While this is technically a re-release, the album includes a few never before released tunes that are worthy of our attention. This project masterfully combines elements of old and new, while providing an alluring path toward the future. All techno fans, young and old, will surely enjoy Steve O’Sullivan’s ‘Green Trax’ on Trip Records.
-Jeronimo Watson
Link – Bandcamp
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