Cold, minimal, yet soulful Techno from the master synthesist, Conforce.
Boris Bunnik, aka Conforce, aka Versalife, is a Rotterdam-based DJ and producer whose prolific catalog spans almost 20 years, with releases on many notable Dutch labels such as: Delsin, Clone Basement Series, Rush Hour, and even his own label—Transcendent. His latest “Commuting pt.2” EP, the second installment to the “Commuting” series on the Parisian label Syncrophone, demonstrates why Conforce remains one of the most skilled Minimal / Dub Techno producers in the game.
Rotterdam is Europe’s largest seaport, playing a central role in industry and logistics for both the Netherlands and the entire continent. Much like Techno’s birthplace in the Motor City, this industrial heritage has greatly influenced the city’s music scene, leading to the development of a raw, mechanical, and minimalistic form of the genre.
Conforce’s primary sources of inspiration are from early Chicago House like Larry Heard, Detroit Techno, labels from the UK like B12 or Applied Rhythmic Technology, and even Berlin’s dub duo—Basic Channel. His production can best be described as a blending of cold machinic precision with the warmth of a craftsman’s touch and attention to detail. Across the four tracks on “Commuting pt.2”, Conforce continues his purist approach toward making Techno.
One notable feature of Conforce’s music is the use of space. Where some producers would be tempted to fill up every bit of the sonic spectrum, Conforce lets his arrangements pulse, breathe, and dissipate energy on each cycle. First track “Range Anxiety” is masterfully mixed, with a bulbous sub line, snappy percs, lovely swells of melodies, and a lucious amounts of reverb. “Recuperation” has icy pads that pan from left to right as glassy plucked arpeggios build tension and release built up around simple and effective swung 909 drum groove.
Following a similar but more stripped back formula, “SSC-ML” has a slightly darker arp, creating room for Conforce to show off his precise programming chops with more layers of complex polyrhythms. The closing track, “RTM-Zuid,” is a proper thumper with its booming kick, thick rubbery baseline, and psychedelic sounds bouncing around in the sonic space Conforce so carefully constructs.
All of the sounds in Conforce’s music are the result of years of experience as well as focused attention and programming; he even has a gumroad page dedicated to sound design, samples, and presets available for any aspiring producer to use as they see fit.
While trends may come and go, Conforce remains dedicated to the soulful, minimalistic, and machinic roots of the genre.
High-tech soul for the heads.
-Alex Dahm
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