- Italian producer Dave Saved's debut on Astro:Dynamics last year was a wash of foamy synth jams and gently gurgling rhythms. Now he returns with an EP on Gang Of Ducks, whose blurry-around-the-edges approach seems like a good fit. A dip into murkier waters for the fledgling imprint, Power And Silence: Deindustrialization takes the molten flow of kosmische and gives it a sleep-deprived makeover, offering up a more confident sound from Saved in the process.
The EP sounds like it was recorded in a thick fog, but that's part of its charm—would warbly opener "Power & Silence" sound as powerful if its crisscrossing lead lines and slow-motion kicks weren't so seductively shrouded? An unexpected but welcome techno beat sharpens the focus on "No Lights," binding together the tapestry of faint acid lines and other implacable sounds. "Virtual Feelings" works through contrast, letting discordant keys clash with more comforting sounds and ending up sounding like charred library music.
The epic organs and chugging rhythms of "Random Souls Fluidity" make for the EP's most satisfying song, where the illusory effects serve the beat rather than distract from it. Either way, it's hard to imagine any of these tracks on the dance floor, but that hardly matters—Gang Of Ducks has always struck a middle ground between the club and home listening. Two remixes pull it closer to club music. Aïsha Devi's chipmunk vocal rework of "Power And Silence" is more annoying than enlightening, while Gang Of Ducks' more successful remix turns "Virtual Feelings" into straight-ahead techno with the thump of an overstuffed washing machine.
TracklistA1 Power & Silence
A2 No Lights
A3 Virtual Feelings
B1 Random Souls Fluidity
B2 Power & Silence (Aisha Devi Mindworker Rework)
B3 Virtual Feelings (GOD Rework)