Midwest powerhouse imprint Northern Parallels returns with 2 defined cuts by Joshua Calleja across “Blonde Dimension” EP, featuring remixes of stripped down, no-nonsense Techno with a collaborative take by Mike Derer and Jason Patrick alongside a Dub edit by Minneapolis figurehead and Intellephunk honcho, Centrific.
Throughout its tenure, Midwest figurehead and purveyor of all things pure Techno, Northern Parallels has pushed the boundaries of releases, constantly pushing forward-thinking artists and features to the forefront of their productions. The label always puts a focus on technicality and originality over mass production of releases and regularly brings some of the best and brightest through its schedule.
Since December, which saw the release of the label’s 3rd installment of their VA album “Best of Northern Parallels”, it’s been a quiet start to 2023—a silence shattered with their first release of the year by Northern Parallels mainstay, Joshua Calleja.
With already 2 previous solo releases on the imprint and a slew of singles and remixes to match, “Blonde Dimension” EP again breaks the mold of previously attained recognition on the albums that Calleja has put forth on the label. The release also features 2 original cuts and a collaborative remix by label head Mike Derrer and Chicago powerhouse Jason Patrick.
This isn’t the first time Mike and Jason have worked together on remix duties. They’ve done a handful of mind-bending remixes on Northern Parallels over the years to create a seemingly perfect ethos in their works to the point that it’s hard to distinguish who influenced which aspect of the track they work together on.
In the past, the two prolific artists have encapsulated the finer details of hypnotic driving tonality with a well-curated House twist. On their remix of “Blonde Dimension” however, the duo dive headlong into deep, hypnotic twists and turns and throbbing, late-night musical aspirations that don’t fail to land in perfect synchronicity with the EP’s overall tone.
One of the pinnacles of the remix lineup actually, comes in a rare appearance by one of the Midwest circuit’s prolific artists. Enter Intellephunk head honcho and Minneapolis legend in his own, Centrific.
For the past several decades, Centrific has been a pioneer and champion of the underground and the music industry as a whole. With his Intellephunk productions, Centrific (aka Steve Sueling) has done a litany of true-to-the-core underground centric shows and events. Heralded as being some of the best events to grace the region, Centrific and Intellephunk’s influence hasn’t been confined to Minneapolis, and his name can regularly be found dotting various events spanning a large swathe of the states and beyond over the years. Coming up on the 25 year anniversary event of Intellephunk, Centrific provides a taste of the Dub styles that have made the Minneapolis Techno circuit notable and influential in its own right as well as a potential glimpse into the musical interests that can be expected for future shows to the release with his remix of “Mindless Chaos”.
Four influential artists in their own vein come together under one banner to lead Northern Parallels into 2023 with “Blonde Dimension” EP. Seemingly impossible to top, this latest release brings forth a seemingly impossible task for future EP’s to rise above and bring forward their best selections.
-Colin Cook
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