YVES DE MEY Schallplatten & CDs

Review: With each release Yves De May is slowly breaking away from his Sandwell District-alumni status. After releasing just the one remix (of Sawf) in 2012, Transfer is the enigmatic producer's second release this year after the Metrics EP for Opal Tapes. This 12" for Modal Analysis involves three Transitions, with the lapping waves of white noise in "Transition #1" surprisingly offering something soothing, not harsh and malicious. Like a wild beast stirred from a stupor, "Transition #2" grows into a solidified and rolling remake of the former, with skerricks of static buzz creating continuity between tracks. The third Transition takes up the entire B-side, and with drums seemingly inspired by Vatican Shadow or Regis, it's the EP's culminating track that fuses the best elements of each Transition into the one cohesive piece.

Review: The imperious Sandwell District returns with this limited double 12" on clear vinyl from Belgian techno sculptor Yves De Mey. On a similarly experimental tip to the label's recent release from Bob Ostertag and Rrose's, Counting Triggers is essentially a series of challenging, exciting and at time terrifying sonic experiments. Rippling pools of sound attack your senses - nervous, twitching, paranoid soundscapes, richly textured and intricately layered. The crackling drones of "Particle Match" hint at what is to follow - and it is immediately apparent that De Mey is intent on exploring the darkest corners of sound design, with scant attention paid to rhythmic rules or dancefloor regulations. Highly recommended.