Formerly Sydney-based electronic producer Rick Bull’s music as Deepchild is likely to be familiar to many Cyclic Defrost readers, with the more electro-dub centred approach of his earlier albums such as 2002’s ‘Chocolate Dubs’ on Clan Analogue gradually being replaced by a more streamlined and dancefloor-focussed aesthetic on subsequent releases like 2006’s aptly titled ‘Departures’ on Future Classic. Indeed, the following year saw Bull relocating to Berlin, a city he’s continued to make his home to this day, whilst continuing to release new material as Deepchild steadily on labels including Resopal Schallware and Trapez. A chance meeting with Canadian ex-pat electronic producer Noah Pred resulted in a strong connection being forged that lead to Bull releasing his 2012 album ‘Neukolln Burning’ on the latter’s Thoughtless Music label. Two years on this self-titled debut album as Concubine sees the duo collaborating together in the studio to create a collection of tracks reflecting their shared fascination with their adopted city as ‘outsiders.’.
While the influence of Berlin techno is certainly discernible here though, rather than dealing in homages, Bull and Pred instead use these references as jumping off points for their own stylistic explorations more than anything else. One thing that’s pretty much constantly present amongst these eleven tracks is a sense of deep nocturnal atmosphere. After ‘Resolution B’ opens proceedings with a beatless wander through whirring synth ambience, muted radio conversation and foreboding bass tones that sees melodic elements gradually rising out of the haze, ‘Pivoting Planes’ sees reverbed-out handclaps locking into place against lurking bass runs and spidery hi-hat programming, the addition of jittery arpeggios adding an eerie edge to the darkly muscular techno rhythms that power beneath.
Throughout the remainder of this album’s expansive 78 minute running length, the sense of streamlined dancefllor momentum pretty much doesn’t let up. ‘Apocalypse Disco’ sees glittery electro sequences and darting jazzy riffs offering up a velvety smooth counterpoint to dry-sounding 808 snares and snaking analogue bass tones, as a sense of jacking Chicago-house shuffle kicks in towards the end against pressurised-sounding hisses. Elsewhere, ‘Three Way’ drops the pace slightly as clattering drum machines trace pop and lock patterns against pitched-down 303 squelches and stuttering sample treatments, in what’s easily one of the most sinuously robo-funk laden moments on offer here. A extremely impressive debut offering from Concubine that sees Bull and Pred deftly balancing subtle layers and dancefloor viscerality in equal doses – you can download the entire album for free from www.concubine.cc
