Artist: Various
Album: Think and Change Compilation
Label: Nonplus Records
Release Date: 11/03/2013
For its debut compilation offering, Nonplus has produced a solid representation of this dark corner of the techno field that, if last night's Album Launch Party at Phonica is anything to go by, will really get the blood pumping. These tracks are for the club, not the couch.
Nonplus was conceived in 2009 by Alex Greene and Damon Kirkham, then collaborating as drum'n'bass duo Instra:mental. Towards the end of this co-operation their style began to change and the lads have since explored solo careers, with Greene (AKA Boddika) steadily marching Nonplus in the techno direction it had already been dawdling towards. Think and Change is a reflection of how successfully and rapidly Boddika has established himself in this techno scene, not only through the quality of regular Nonplus collaborators like Kasseme Mosse and Lowtec, but through the high profile artists not previously featured on the label who were keen to get on board, namely Four Tet, Joy Orbison and SCB (Scuba).
Few techno compilations are complete without some German influence (Mosse, Lowtec etc), but the overwhelming input here comes from the UK, which was a conscience decision, Greene has told Resident Advisor. Subsequently, this release is a pretty good indication of what it's been sounding like in basements, warehouses and underneath railway arches on these cold, dark weekends in the UK. Man of the moment Joy Orbison has his hand in the biggest tracks of the album: the swollen and gelatenous bouncing bassline of TIP!, the sadistic hammering of Orbison and Boddika's collaboration Mercy and the unhinged vocal loops and manic bassline contours of their other monster collaboration Fate … and I mean all these off-putting descriptions in the most positive way possible; this kind of thing is meant to be ugly.
Other tracks like Boddika's own Beat's Me and Kassem Mosse's Broken Pieces create dark and rhythmic atmospheres which travel at a slightly more steady pace towards a conclusion that never materializes. Four Tet's appearance is as energetic as Martyn's is mildly unsettling, and just when you think you've got a handle on the pace an old unreleased smooth DnB number surfaces from Instra:mental and dBridge, a satisfying nod to the labels not-so-distant roots.
Music makers, writers and enthusiasts have given this album a lot of love and attention in the lead up to its release so if it falls short of expectations that's because it fell victim to its own hype. When considered without the chinstroker hysteria it's a thoroughly satisfying release – especially if you get your hands on that sexy transparent vinyl box set.
Tracklist:
A Boddika & Joy Orbison - &Fate
B Lowtec - The Rhythm
C Four Tet - For These Times
D Boddika - Beats Me
E Pearson Sound - Quiver
F Endian - Straight Intention
G Joy Orbison - Big Room Tech House Dj Tool - TIP!
H Kassem Mosse - IP Mirrors
I Instra:mental & dBridge - White Snares
J Martyn - Bad Chicago
Sampler 1
A Boddika & Joy Orbison - Mercy (Boddika's VIP)
AA Kassem Mosse - Broken Patterns
Sampler 2
A SCB - Dissipate
AA Basic Soul Unit – Untoward
