- LACKREC. is a German label that splits itself between colorful, leftfield house and 140 BPM techno. That may sound erratic but the releases hold together, likely because they're produced by a tight-knit group: D-IX and Pablo Mateo (who join forces as Liit), as well as a select few newcomers. This year has seen a feel-good house record from Jonas Palzer, and now Gian flips the script and delivers 53_19_72. Comprising dark, high-speed techno and electro, the record is an exhilarating debut.
Gian's Facebook puts his ideas into context. The Berlin producer posts a slew of mutant, full-throttle tracks from the '90s; in mood and tempo, this is the jumping off point for 53_19_72. All four tracks operate above 140 BPM, with the A-side focused on techno. "041" begins with nothing but a hard kick, spotlighting tight layers of hi-hats until its sinewy synth sequence erupts. As the track progresses, the delirium grows, riding between putrid synths and breaks. "412" is just as brutal but with a deeper sense of groove, its concrete beat swathed in pattering hand drums and gleaming chords.
On the B-side, Gian's arrangements stay dense and fluid as he moves into electro. "381," by far the stickiest mind-bender here, features a swollen bassline, spacey reverb and curdled synths, all liberally splashed with acid. On top of a similar squelch, "104"'s bright pads and 8-bit machine funk makes it sound almost playful. But as soon as the fat kick returns at the climax, it's clear Gian is not fucking around.
TracklistA1 041
A2 412
B1 381
B2 104