SHEWORKS 005 vinyl

News of Surgeon and Blawan working together as Trade for the fifth Works The Long Nights release was unexpected, though hardly surprising given how supportive the former has been of the latter and his fellow UK techno producers in recent times. Unsurprisingly given the calibre of the artists involved, the results pretty spectacular, even taking into account the fact the genre is in something of a purple patch at the moment. "Half Nelson" sees frazzled synths dragged kicking and screaming across savage kickdrums and incomprehensible vocals, while "Positive Neckline" pairs ripcord bass and relentless stabs stabs with frenetic hi-hats. On the flip, "Touch This Skin" dangles its rattling drums like a flayed man hanging from the gallows while "I Notice You All" combines acidic bass with a mechanical rhythm that nevertheless seems irregular in its makeup. While Surgeon's solo material has always hit hard, it's always been characterised by a cleaner sound, but with Blawan in tow things are as rough around the edges as the latter's Karenn material, and it's something very welcome indeed.

Exium, Craig McWhinney, Matt K, Billy Nasty, Nihad Tule, Marcel Heese, Tripeo, Ionik (Traveller Records, KGS), Zenner, Charlton, Dan Lodig, Juno Recommends Techno, Jamie Behan, 3.14, Donor, Corticyte, REALMZ, Kastil (Soul Notes/Stale), Phiorio (Metroline Limited), Kondaktor