German techno mainstay Rødhåd returns to self release on his BTZ sublabel of WSNWG with “Alternation”—a 4 tracker of deeply hypnotic, machine-laden, loop-based and sound system-oriented techno.
The other techno viking, Mike Bierbach, primarily releasing under the name Rødhåd, has been a strong and formidable champion of the Berlin techno sound for more than a decade under the Dystopian label. Previously, Rødhåd made his mark with his promotional outfit under the same name and has never once compromised on his personal brand of techno which brings a deep and heady aesthetic encompassing dub techno and rhythmic textures.
It seems a lot of Rødhåd’s artistic style comes from DJ culture amid Berlin and Berghain, where the extended 3+ hour set is the norm and for which the necessity of having loop-based stripped down tracks are needed for layering, where having tracks that fit with a wide variety of techno is a must. As a result, having “Alternation” call upon the history of techno and its precursors is very much needed as an artistic choice.
Rødhåd and others have created a sound where the DJ controls the aspects of the record’s programming and development instead of the “peak-time driving” techno style of a mishmash of progressive and subdued trance which relies on the song structure to provide the direction of the night. The kind of techno across “Alternation” has also created a scene where a true aesthetic of loop-based techno on machines reigns supreme. Some have labeled this in previous years as the “Berlin School” sound, and it’s been evolving slowly and consistently ever since, with Rødhåd being one of the foremost proponents of this sound.
Soundscapes for Rødhåd often come from well-executed grooves and loops played in time and processed through immensely pricey ‘unobtanium’ gear that essentially sounds really expensive and puts his music on another realm, far removed from the standard laptop producer with a copy of Ableton and a few choice VSTs.
This “Alternation” EP is no exception to the evolved current state of the Berlin School, and while not much a vast new direction as is concerned for his body of work, “Alternation” does create a solid amount of fresh material for a certain point in the beginning of the night.
The title track “Alternation” provides a strong foundation as a builder track to kick off the night that goes from introspective to banging with classic, slamming techno high hats. “Wise Saying” features deeply stretched out vocalizations from Sara Clarke that provide the tension and an off-time moving polyrhythmic synth to really pull you from your body. These both set a strong mood that something serious is about to go down, drawing a clear line, as if a true gladiator arrived.
The other two tracks provide more experimental and heady sonics as each have a difficult tension to them that could easily set up a more soothing techno sound. Both hard but in greatly cerebral ways, the titles allude to both as such with “Mental Strength” and “Strained Face” being obvious clues to their intentions.
In summation, the “Alternation” EP is a superb new release for Rødhåd and exactly what you need to throw down to separate yourself from any opening slot. Many DJs secretly want that commanding presence as soon as they come on to the decks—something that immediately says they are in control, have presence, experience, and strength you can trust. Rødhåd understands that desire well, and it is very much present across the four tracks on this EP. If you possess the selections to back up the precedent that this “Alternation” EP throws down, then it is definitely for you.
Also, please note that the proceeds from this release are being split equally among a few select humanitarian aid organizations regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine: UNO Refugee Aid, Caritas International, and Ärzte ohne Grenzen – Medecines sans Frontiers. Pick up a few tracks and support these organizations trying to do their part to help.
-Sean Ocean
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