In the last two years, prolific San Diego producer ASC has rather credibly added techno to his resume, with releases on Perc Trax and Mote-Evolver. He's also started yet another imprint, Diode, to help nurture his latest love. The first release comprises three fluid dance floor tracks, gently touched with the cinematic sense of melody that's grounded his recent work.
ASC's techno is of a softer sensibility; the kick is more a pilot light than a foundation. "Solenoid" has the heaviest bass drum, but it's more about the whip-smart hi-hats than anything else. It shines with all the futuristic glint of Autonomic, particularly halfway through when soft pads creep into the picture, breaking up the rigidity with wells of signature ASC emotion. "Release" is tougher, and its workmanlike stride and carefully gridded melodies keep it stiff like some perfect machine. Zooming in on percussive intricacies, "Carrier" concerns itself with discrete rattling textures that percolate more like tech house than techno. ASC is a producer who seems to adapt uncannily well to everything he tries. While he might not be reinventing the genre here, it's a promising taster for an intriguing new label.
