- Nottingham producer Mark Jacobs has been releasing music as Seetheroad (or See The Road) since 2010, and in that time he's moved the project slowly but steadily towards deeper and darker sounds. But one constant in his techno tracks has been light, intricate rhythms made from handcrafted percussive noises. On his latest record, the Cédrus Út EP for Hungarian label Tape Hiss, Jacobs follows his inclinations toward a sound that's more fully formed and enticing than any of his previous work. From the IDM-hued shimmy of "Carpface" to the atonal atmospheres of "Premium Murkage," these four tunes could easily fit next to the likes of Ilian Tape and Samurai Horo.
Where those similarities end, however, is where some issues begin. For as much hypnotic groove and sharp production as Cédrus Út has, it rarely goes beyond those central characteristics. And sometimes when Jacobs tries to do more, the results are less appealing. When "Port-Au-Prince" adds a few simple chords into its booming bounce, they strangely flip the mood from steely to something almost cute. The synths in "Anathema" work great with the punchy, nimble beat, even if their sci-fi melodies sound a bit canned. There's little on Cédrus Út that will surprise seasoned European techno fans, but there's still plenty of well-crafted DJ fare for those who can't get enough robust rhythms.
TracklistA1 Carpface
A2 Port-Au-Prince
B1 Anathema
B2 Premium Murkage