German techno live act Acid At the Mall delivers 4 cuts of acid techno on “Rufen” from his soon to be released live set.
Creating and performing techno live is no small feat, but for German producer Acid At the Mall, it is protocol. Upon perusing the online content from this German techno live act, it quickly becomes clear that, for this artist, the idea of hunching over a DAW for hours on end just won’t cut it. In the case of his most recent “Rufen” EP, no additional processing was necessary. What we hear is raw and powerful acid techno, and it was all recorded on the fly. The first of three EPs from Acid At The Mall, “Rufen” features excerpts from a fully live performance, demonstrating just how good live techno can sound.
Starting off the record, “Rufen A1” wastes no time getting the ball rolling. A petite, yet punchy kick drum cuts through a thick haze of atmospheric texture. As the track progresses, a stripped back acid lead emerges and begins to unravel. Similarly, “Rufen A2” gradually intensifies from a minimalistic start into a fully engaging crescendo, showcasing Acid At The Mall’s mastery over the manipulation of a single sound, all while paying the utmost attention to the progression of the track’s broader foundation and composition. Eventually, a reverberated percussive hit clicks and clacks, coming in at just the right time to prevent fatigue and keeping the listener guessing what comes next.
On the B-side, “Rufen B1” incorporates short and delicate conga fills beautifully articulated by a subtle delay effect that breathes life into the mix. Lastly, “Rufen B2” utilizes the sound of a deep inhale and exhale to create a rich atmosphere that rises and falls like the acid bass lines that each track on the release revolves around. In this cut, the syncopated bass dances in the spaces between the kick drum while chopped up whispers serve as the final ingredient to bring the track to its peak.
Acid At the Mall’s latest “Rufen” EP features four exceptional acid techno tracks that stand out regardless of how they were made. That said, having been recorded live without any further treatment or “processing” as the artist puts it certainly adds to the mystique and allure.
Support Acid At The Mall with a digital download via the Bandcamp page linked above, and stay on the lookout for the release of the entire live set, due to be premiered sometime this summer.
-Jeronimo Watson
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