Underground producer Lee Holman is a very focused artist, always putting his music before himself and forming a career of just letting his machines do the talking. Currently, Holman lands on one of the most talked about releases of the year on Nastia’s label NECHTO with five-tracker “Footprints on the Moon” EP—a labor of love that has taken more than a year to fully flesh out.
The real heads may have already known for some time and have followed his work as a fan since 2008. Whether you’re a fan or not, if you’ve ever heard the name Lee Holman, you’ve known his music isn’t just something half baked. He is underground in the way he’s not talked about in every circle but has kept good company with similar underground techno artists that have kept themselves out of the spotlight and let their music speak with great quality and artistic integrity. Artists like Mary Velo, Insolate, Samuli Kemppi, Matthias Fridell, Zadig, Mike Dehnert, and Phil Petit for example, to name just a few; all of whom have a very consistent track record of creating unassuming and creative titles that wind up in your collection because they’re hard to find a real comparison to, as far as individual quality and artistic musical statement. Holman’s work is timeless, mostly because it is something personal that doesn’t follow any trend, yet always remains relevant to the records in circulation. You will definitely find his tracks creeping into your playlists because of the love you find for his work.
It was said in the release notes that this “Footprints on the Moon” EP was a seriously heavy-focused look at his music in a perfectionist sense—creating, listening, and giving himself feedback on every nuance and correcting the ideas—never stopping until every little problem was ironed out. The result is 18 months of hard work and a very satisfying complete EP that listens more like a 5 track album than a quick EP. It is one that matches Holman’s deep style and graces the dark and smokey energetic characteristics of the NECHTO Label.
“Region of the Sun” definitely feels like a departure from Holman’s deeper explorations, fully leaning into the dark, dance floor energy of the NECHTO Catalog. “Sonic Symptom” takes on a similar approach before returning to an unmistakable Lee Holman-like sound on the breathtaking title track “Footprints on the Moon.” Here too, “Limb of the Star” also exudes quintessential Holman yet still has some of that smoke-filled metallic vibe fitting Nastia’s label within its treated cymbals and filtered and restrained pads.
Finishing up the EP, we have “Solar Flare”, which is one of the reasons why people really value Lee Holman’s tracks and why they always wind up packed away on your USB or as a prominent consideration for your sets. One can easily feel the heart and love put into this music. The dynamic tension is perfect, the swing amid the elements easy and flowing, the synths all talk to each other, everything in the mix needs each other, and every part has a role to play on the sonic stage. There are so many little layers and bits of attention to every sonic quality; it’s just superior quality techno, no matter how you look at it.
The more you listen, the more there is to love. In many ways, this is the reason why Lee Holman continues to garner love and support for his work. It is also why it’s noteworthy that Nastia has chosen to give a proper platform to showcase an artist like Holman who also truly believes in his techno like so many of us already.
It’s hard to find a standout on this “Footprints on the Moon” EP, since they are all so well made. Some younger people may be pulled into the more banging, harder grooving tracks, while other people might be drawn into the masterful hand and ear at work crafting tracks like “Footprints” and “Solar Flare”. The best course of action is to pick up the full EP on digital or vinyl and see which situation where it may fit. Undoubtedly, it could fill a niche in every night out, guaranteed.
-Sean Ocean
Check out Dirty Epic music recommendations here.
Listen to our podcasts here.
Find out more about our events here.
