Dallas, Texas isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think about cities known for quality techno. But maybe it’s time for that to change. Emerging talent from Dallas, TX, Decoder, delivers a stellar seven track EP for Berlin based label SYXT.
Dallas, Texas isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think about cities known for quality techno. But maybe it’s time for that to change. Like many parts of the world, techno’s reach is beginning to stretch further and further out, enthralling unprecedented numbers of newly converted fans, young and old, toward embracing the technologically-infused dance music we know and love. It’s here and it isn’t going anywhere other than forward.
With this widespread growth in popularity, a new and vital international community, one that orients itself around a shared pursuit of forward-thinking musical exploration above all else, takes shape and connects people around the globe. Music, more so than ever is less bound to ideas of individual identity, nationality, and geography. It always has been a universal language, perhaps more so today than ever. That’s why it’s an absolute pleasure to witness artists like Dallas-based producer, Decoder, release music on Berlin’s relatively young label SYXT. Releases, and artists, this good are capable of putting an unassuming city, like Dallas, on the global radar, and can be a notable step toward spreading techno’s reach as far as possible.
The first track on this release, titled “Identity,” will help you get acquainted with Decoder’s style of production. Slick, detailed, and brisk, this track feels effortless in its execution. Compiled mostly with short, muted, percussive bits and pieces, the beat’s foundation is extremely well constructed, and makes for an ideal base to improvise over. Soft, flanged pads nicely fill in the gaps and politely contrast the staccato groove. While most of this track feels gentle and lackadaisical, an added layer of crisp, heavily delayed hi-hats help to accentuate the drops and add sudden bursts of energy.
Next, the second track “Compulsive Reflex” picks up the pace with a more complex percussive suite. Panned super wide, and with a sense of urgency, this beat is full of movement. Gentle tones create an unpredictable melody that gradually becomes more and more convoluted in competing tonal patterns and phrases. Though you may at some point loose track of the main melody, the overall impact of the track is in fact dependant on its abundance of overlapping layers. Just before the one minute mark, and repeatedly throughout, a breathy inhale and exhale accentuate the hi-hats, gently pushing the beat forward and locks you in.
While all three of Decoder’s tracks stand out for their quality production, the four remixes at the end of the release by artists Nicolas Volger, Ketch, P4PS and Terminus, each bring something different to the table. Nicolas Volger’s remix of “Identity” takes us back to a more vintage sound, incorporating synth stabs that have more grit and punch than most modern productions we hear these days. In addition, he incorporates some classic drum machine sourced cymbals that take on more of a Detroit house and techno sensibility.
The second remix, a personal favorite, is Ketch’s remix of “Compulsive Reflex.” In this interpretation, Ketch takes things to a much darker place, exploring a raw and grueling take on Decoder’s sound. Consistent with the original, this track stays relatively cool and collected, but adds a menacing ambiance and a slightly more aggressive percussion arrangement without ever sounding too intense or harsh. Following this remix is a more light and uplifting take on the same track by P4PS. Wispy high-pitched chimes sound like baby birds chirping for their next worm. More so than the previous remix, this version encapsulates the same ethos as the original, and takes it up, up and away, until your head’s in the clouds. Lastly, Terminus’s remix of “Help Me Up,” offers a driving and psychedelic journey through his use of warped and manipulated animal sounds. Terminus creates an exciting and stimulating sounds cape for his remix, taking us out of the warehouse and deep into the wilderness. Each remix manages to balance Decoder’s sensibility with a healthy dose of the artists’ own personalities.
Decoder’s latest release for SYXT showcases his skills as a producer while simultaneously defying preconceived notions around where good techno comes from. From my perspective, no artist is doing more for putting the state of Texas on the map for internationally recognized talent in the global techno community than Decoder. Keep an eye on this exceptional artist and watch as Texas’ techno scene begins to grow. Support the artists and label with a digital download of SYXT023, linked above.
-Jeronimo Watson
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