- "The only way to experience the music [Stefan] Mitterer is involved with is on wax," Philip Sherburne wrote in a recent piece on vinyl-only labels for Pitchfork. "He doesn't sell digital downloads." In the days since Sherburne's article was published, Mitterer (AKA DJ Sotofett) has, in fact, released his first digital EP, but as you can see from the title, that's not just funny timing. Tempting as it may be, it's probably not wise to dissect the Sex Tags Mania boss's supposed "diss" here—the diss itself is pretty murky, delivered in the disser's second language, and in the end this drama is too trivial to warrant a mini-thinkpiece.
The music, though, is worth a look. Sotofett is one of the most singular and prolific electronic artists of our time, and "Philip Sherburne..." is a milestone in more ways than one. Beyond being his first digital EP, it's also his straightest techno record by a mile. Yes, the "Alternate Mix" has the woody percussion and balmy atmosphere we know and love from Sotofett's countless house and jungle mutations, but it's also a mean, loopy weapon that clocks in at a soaring 139 BPM. The "Generic Mix" (a fitting title, given how un-weird it is for the Sex Tags boss) is even more unabashedly techno: a spacey, steely thumper you wouldn't be surprised to hear Jeff Mills play. These are minor works in the scope of Sotofett's catalog, but good enough that they shouldn't be overshadowed by beef (or what passes for it in dance music).
Tracklist01. Philip Sherburne, Your Word Should Be Worth More Than The Ignorance Of Pitchfork (Generic Mix)
02. Philip Sherburne, Your Word Should Be Worth More Than The Ignorance Of Pitchfork (Alternate Mix)