After several strong releases on her label Dark Machine Funk and Ben Sims’ Symbolism, Kerrie follows up with “Raw Regimen” EP on Blueprint. Born in Ireland and residing in Manchester, she’s an emerging force that not only produces and DJs excellent techno, but also helps nurture local talent as “Eastern Bloc’s” event coordinator.
Needing little introduction, James Ruskin’s Blueprint Records has produced a long string of quality underground techno releases for many years, and this one is no exception. The London imprint has served up the likes of Surgeon, Ben Klock, Mark Broom, Luke Slater, DVS1, and Robert Hood to name a few, so Kerrie is in lauded company. “Raw Regimen” explores polyrhythmic arp programming, broken beats, and analog textures with the EP presenting a tight, straightforward analog statement; a unique, concise, indeed raw, cohesive style. It’s hard to pin down, which in my opinion, is a common thread found in music that has the potential to stand the test of time, perhaps even to become classic.
Title cut “Raw Regimen” drops straight into the business with a single kick drum and massive bassline. Right away its pattern begins to work, keeping the track very busy and active, driving forward with funk and syncopation. It builds and twists, getting weirder and nastier as it filters and modulates. This layer is wildly dynamic and keeps the attention glued, the “Raw Regimen” not so slowly becoming more and more raw. The composition of the synths are so greasy, grimey, dirty, yet warm and analog at the same time.
“Native Intelligence” drops into a broken kick shuffle, with textured snares and sound design giving their distinct character. The diminished energy of the beat is complemented perfectly by the nasty rave bass, looping over and over with hypnotic, reverse edits flying. Again, all elements are interacting with inherent funk as a darker arp gives an appropriate counterpoint in the background.
Continuing in the broken beat vein, “Poly Pressure” picks the energy up further with its sleazy, tense portamento synth lead line. At the 2 minute mark it really starts opening up, doing serious work with its modulation, getting extremely expressive, dark, and dangerous. Lots of drama wrapped up in one sound, another amazing lesson in minimalism. Other synths enter the fray, but this first slippery beast is a wonder.
“Turning Point” reflects its name perfectly. A mammoth kick keeps the shuffle going, but this time Kerrie introduces a slice of a vocal sample which then becomes the complement to some truly track-defining synth programming; dynamic sounds that could be described as mimicking voices themselves, or perhaps even bagpipes, or synthetic accordion. They take the music to unpredictable places, creating anticipation, mystery, wildness, an air of the unknown, and an air of change.
We’ll be keeping a keen eye on Kerrie. Check out her “Raw Regimen” EP at the link above.
-Nicolaas Black
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