Six months on from the release of their debut compilation, this second volume from Californian modular synthesiser manufacturers Tiptop Audio follows a similar path to its predecessor, with all of the tracks being crafted by a range of electronic producers using equipment designed and built by the company itself. For the most part, the ten tracks collected here adhere fairly closely to techno, with a few exceptions. Tiptop Audio themselves describe the contents as representing a growing ‘modular techno’ scene, one where an increasing amount of artists have started leaning towards the more visceral and physical pleasures of modular systems when approaching their compositions. As a tag for the sorts of sounds being explored here, it’s certainly not a bad one.
Perhaps most apparent upon first listening is the extremely sculpted and refined nature of the tracks featured here. US-based producer Matt Lange opens proceedings in stripped-back territory with ‘Qvcamx’ as glassy melodic tones slowly emerge around a backbone of galloping kickdrums and rattling metallic percussion, brooding ambient pads tracing a path around the tightly coiled rhythmic pulse as crisp hi-hats race into the distance. If there’s a sense of icy widescreen grandeur to the aforementioned track, Italian producer Joao Ceser opts for sustained dark atmosphere on ‘System Failure’ as vaguely acidic synth arpeggios wind themselves around streamlined 4/4 rhythms and subtly placed bass pads, the entire track breaking down into an ambient midsection that sees droning synth tones bleeding into the foreground, only for the thudding kickdrums to suddenly kick back in against a metronomic snare pulse. Elsewhere, Black Shape’s ‘Doom Room’ sees lithe shuffling snares and an almost EBM-tinged bassline merging fluidly with bluesy guitar licks and moody male vocals, creating a dark pop fusion that calls to mind one of Black Strobe’s similarly swampy techno explorations.
While the predominant focus here is upon streamlined techno grooves, some of the most interesting moments occur here when things step away from the precise 4/4 rhythms. Drumcell & Luis Flores’ ‘Submission Of Thought’ sees slow crunching beats richocheting and fracturing as they roll with murderous intent beneath eerie synthetic orchestration and ominous bass chords, evoking some dark wander through a post-apocalyptic wasteland as bendy analogue synth tones slowly wind their way out of the murk. Scanner meanwhile takes things out into darkly cinematic territory with ‘Valbor’ as fidgeting percussion builds into a dense wall of textures, analogue synths buzzing and arcing against weary-sounding droning bass tones and what almost sounds like yawning guitar feedback. Another impressive collection from Tiptop Audio that sees dark dance rhythms intersecting with an exquisite emphasis upon sound design, to consistently rewarding effect.
