Lone Romantic レコード& CD

Review: Six years have passed since Maceo gave the world his debut album Life Index. In that time he's solidified his status as one of techno's most untouchable soul men who's unapologetically ungoverned by tempos or boxes or any type of formula. He's also become a father, which is what this (and last year's "Journey To Solar") are all about. Rich in sentiment, hope and fear, each cut reveals a deeper layer of Maceo: the star-gazing optimism of "Kepler's Journey", the Bristolesque industrial dub soul of "Indigo", the careful countering of vulnerable emotion and roboticism on "Was Away My Tears", the list goes on. This is Maceo at his most heartfelt and arresting.

Review: Maceo Plex is best known for his Ellum Audio label but he also heads up Lone Romantic which explores a more heady and underground electro sound. And that's what we get here from Third Culture on his U Move EP. The title track opens with booming analogue kicks hitting hard beneath twisted talk box vocals and tripped-out melodies. 'Follow Me' then has fleshy bass darting about beneath fizzing synth work up top that will electrify any dance floor. Offering a third and final different look is 'I See You' which has an aloof of vocal amidst plenty of machine-made electro tension.