South African up-and-comer Fabian Cioffi delivers his first full length LP “Hard Wear” to Madrid’s Selected Records.
Releasing 10 new techno tracks made entirely on hardware gear, Fabian Cioffi’s first album titled “Hard Wear” explores the deeper side of the genre, yet utilizes pulsating bass lines and upbeat rhythms to ensure each track’s functionality on the dance floor. Finding its home at Spain’s Selected Records seems to be the perfect fit for the debut album, and the label has recently featured releases from other producers we’ve enjoyed covering in the past, including Danny Wabbit and Linear System.
Starting off the record is the nimble and plucky cut, “Selted.” Short bursts of percussive phrases echo to and fro. A broken kick adds complexity while distant vocal pads steadily hum. The second track, titled “Breeeth,” picks up the pace with a hard-hitting groove utilizing an arpeggiated bass and an occasional synth stab for added flavor. Moody, and more on the melodic side, this track stands out from the rest. Later on the album, the eighth cut, “A&C,” expertly explores the sounds of hypnotic techno, at times emitting faint sound effects that stimulate while blurring the line between artificial and organic.
The closing track “Thank You Lorn” offers one final surprise for this “Hard Wear” LP by exploring a far slower tempo than the previous nine, boldly venturing into new territory. Clunky snares and a catchy hook keep you guessing. “Is this still the same record,” you’ll likely ask yourself upon first hearing the grand finale. But while the track initially seems, perhaps, too far removed from the rest of the album, by the end it feels like a crucial diverging piece and a pleasant surprise.
Fabian Cioffi’s first full-length album “Hard Wear” is a big step for the young producer, a feat made even more impressive by the means in which he created it. It’s not every day we get to hear a full-length techno album made entirely with hardware gear, and “Hard Wear” helps to make the case for such an ambitious venture. Support the artist and label with a digital download, linked above.
-Jeronimo Watson
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