TERRENCE DIXON レコード& CD

Review: repress of this classic Terrence Dixon record 100 copies only!!

Review: Terrence Dixon has been correctly feted for his recent album length projects for Tresor and Surface Ltd, but the Juno office really gets excited when news of a new release on his Reduction label filters through the channels. A fourth release in the series arrives and what's this, Dixon has broken with Reduction convention and named one of his tracks! A Side gripper "Where A Function Of Some Systematically Changing Variables Is Calculated" has the sort of title you need to stop and fully digest, whilst musically it contains equally potent qualities when played at 33 or 45 rpm - the speed former is particularly mind bending. Face down and the rugged "5.29" is one of those techno cuts you'll need to slam into the mix, no 16 bars of easily beat-matchable drums here, it's typical Reduction sonic chaos from the off. "4.20" is just as impressive and fairly reminiscent of some of Jamal Moss's work as The Sun God.

Review: Having established the ARTS label ethos of promoting contemporary hi-tech soul last year through releases of original material from Samuel L Session and Jonas Kopp, label boss Emmanuel Ashoka Beddewela changes tack somewhat with this first release of 2014. The Motor City enigma that is Terrence Dixon is the focus as tracks from last year's EP as Population One for Monique Musique are opened up for reinterpretation by I:Cube, Marcel Fengler and Mark Broom. If you indulged in the Giant Robot EP then you'll know it featured a quite distinct revision from Actress, and none of these new refixes quite match that effort from the Werk boss in the satanic stakes. Instead they are of a more floor pleasing nature with I:Cube's A Side hogging take on "Self Portrait" a highlight that's reminiscent of Carl Craig in his 90s pomp.

Review: Although Michigan is well inland from the North Atlantic Ocean, it doesn't mean Detroit can't make techno for the high seas or uncharted waters. Terrence Dixon's Lost At Sea 12" for the Surface label founded by Nick Dunton and the late Richard Polson sees four tracks of "Untitled" Detroit techno traverse through a sonic field of Joey Anderson and DJ Qu house drums, while saw-wavey Drexciyan qualities and Jeff Mills techno loops also circulate the EP. A deep and heady 12" of U-boat rhythmics for the techno underground.

Review: As a self-confessed Terrence Dixon obsessive, this writer found it difficult to accept the concept of his work being remixed at all. That said, Ben Klock does a fine job of imbuing the Detroit producer's music with a sense of dance floor abandon. Klock's main version sees the Berlin producer lay down an insistent, stripped back groove, its shrieking stabs hitting the listener like the icy jolt of a winter morning. Klock's dub is more rolling and filtered, but contains a punch thanks to its metallic percussive licks. Edwin Oosterwal also delivers a high quality take on "Minimalism", with a slamming rhythm and dry hats providing the basis for a dramatic, sweeping chord sequence.

Review: It's hard to move for the amount of Terrence Dixon releases flying out at the moment, and here comes another assured EP of futuristic techno vibes, this time on Knotweed records. "Beat" powers itself from a prominent set of hats and cymbals while intricate layers of jazzy melodies interlope in an atonal fashion lowed down in the mix in true pile-driving fashion. "Escape" is a creepier affair, holding back on the percussion and letting intriguing keys clash in a measured way that breeds new scales for that quintessential Dixon otherworldliness. "Another Space" is yet more stripped back and haunting, focusing on lavish pads and the space they have to roam free.

Review: 'Point Of View' includes four tracks of radical explosive techno from Terrence Dixon, released on the Finest Blend label. Out there, in a good way.

Review: In the world of minimalism Terrence Dixon won't disappoint you. 'Climb EP' is a funky & marching work. The 'Climb' original mix
is just that and will fit well during any DJ set. Filtered frequencies and electronics all fit expertly. Orlando Voorn in his jerky style
mix of 'Climb' throws it down and will rock anyone with soul. The b-side contains 'Downtown Detroit' and the 3d techno outfit
Connect the Dots! Must have DJ tool.

Review: It would be fair to say that Population One's "Temporary Insanity", and its' accompanying B-side, "Multiple Choice", received mixed reviews when the 12" dropped earlier this year. Undeterred, Out Er has decided to get the best out of both of these Terrence Dixon-produced tracks remixed. There are some notable versions, not least Voiski's punchy mix of "Temporary Insanity", which manages to retain some of Dixon's restless energy, whilst adding a few more melodic touches. Elsewhere, Cosmin TRG's version of "Multiple Choice" is a wonky, minimal-goes-acid affair, while Pangea's booming, bass-heavy interpretation of the same track is a shuffling, broken techno treat.

Review: It's a good thing that Terrence Dixon wasn't being serious when he announced that he's stopped making music. In this day and age, he is the one true pioneer left in Detroit, and his utterly singular brand of techno is an essential part of our daily existence here at HQ. This time, Dixon returns under his own name and under his most successful alias, Population One, on one split EP for Developer's Modularz label. "Code Of Conduct" and "Concrete Playground" represent the Population One side, the first tune being a subdued kick filled with cavernous space above it while the latter is more classic Population One thanks to those bizarre melodic twists. Dixon serves up "Touching Bass" and "The Beholder" on the flip, two jazzy techno sculptures that are instantly recognizable as his own. Recommended, as always.

Review: It's the onset of a brave new era for Ostgut Ton as Panorama Bar 06 signals the label's decision to halt the manufacturing of CDs for their much loved series of mixes. Due for free download via the Ostgut site on August 11, the Berlin operation have not forgone the vinyl format with all the exclusives gathered by mix curator Ryan Elliott pressed up across a pair of 12" samplers. And boy did Elliott call in the favours with this first sampler featuring new and unreleased music from Neworldaquarium, Roman Flugel, Terrence Dixon, Tuff City Kids and Borrowed Identity. It is an overall exquisite selection, running from the ambience of NWAQ's contribution to Flugel's big room stomper and the sweeter, more playful sounds of Tuff City Kids and Borrowed Identity.

Review: Holland's Harbour City Sorrow snaps up Detroit's Population One aka Terrence Dixon. The label heads continue to impress with their fine selection of artists and crafty tracks and their seventh release is an all-out house jewel. Terrence kicks things off with "A Cosmic Display Of Beauty", a fascinating shuffle through aquatic synths and crystal melodies but things really get going on the title track, where a warm bassline swallows up the messy bric-a-brac of percussion which moves fanatically next to the addictive 'I Program My Computer Right' vocals. Over on the flip, "Octagon" is a ravey, nu-skool Detroit piece which confuses and surprises with its alignment of haunting melodies and a bouncy synth bass. Lastly, "March On" moves steadily forward with a progressive beat which rapidly transforms into a mechanical machine workout. There are also a limited number of transparent green copies for ya!

Review: The "Rush Hour Remixes" has support from Laurent Garnier and DJ 3000.

Review: Amsterdam hub Rush Hour switch their attentions back to their fledgling sub label Vault Series for a second release which features the timeless Actress remix of Tom Trago along with an unreleased Terrence Dixon remix from the elusive Texan techno producer Convextion. The self styled "cheeky series" launched in consummate fashion late last year with an unreleased track from the still mysterious Duster Valentine backed by the timely repressing of Aardvarck's classic and instantly recognisable party jam "(Just Washed) That Pig". That template is followed to a tee on the forthcoming installment, due out between late April and early May on vinyl and digital formats. The Actress version of Tom Trago's "Lost In The Streets Of NYC" was originally release back in mid 2009 on a Voyage Direct Remixes 12? alongside an equally good MCDE remix and has been out of print for some time - thus another chance to bask in this uptempo Detroit minded techno should not be passed up. The mental image of the Rush Hour staff rummaging around in a big shed out the back of their Spuistraat store for the material that forms this series is only strengthened by the B Side remix from Convextion. The Dallas based producer was commisioned to remix Terrence Dixon's seminal Population One production "Rush Hour" - the very track that inspired the company's name - alongside DJ Rolando and Aardvarck for a two part re-release to celebrate the label's tenth anniversary. Convextion actually submitted two remixes, the ambient version that featured on that 2007 release, and the intense, other worldly electro workout which has remained in the Rush Hour vaults until now. Highly recommended!

Review: Senor Woolford has joined Loco Dice, Bug and Troxler in the small but well respected band of producers to contribute to NRK's compilation series The Lab, which is thankfully rolling on despite Nik Harris' recent decision to close down operations at NRK HQ after 15 years in the game. This four track vinyl sampler gives you a well judged taste of the double CD which presents Woolford at his most wilfully eclectic. The A Side has two titans of US House in Chez Damier and Terrence Dixon, while the flip sees Skudge turn in a typically gripping remix of Iron Curtis and Edit Piaf's Achterbahn D'Amour next to "Berlin Sunrise (Die Dammerung)", Daniel Wang's stunning electronic disco turn for the Ghostly label.