Lisa Smith, who's also known as DJ Shiva, is Midwest to the core. The Indianapolis-based producer is a great example of the region's tight-knit community—she's been doing her thing for over two decades and has a devoted local following. She only recently began making waves outside the Great Lakes. In the last year, she toured Europe for the first time, appeared on Hessle Audio's Rinse FM show and will make her debut at Panorama Bar in April. The catalyst? Her new hardware-based project, Noncompliant.
Although ostensibly a techno project, Noncompliant has a house-influenced bounce. This comes across best in "The Very Last Inch Of Us," where a wobbly synth lead, dubbed-out snares and a mischievously bobbing bassline play off each other. The kick drum bounds like a gazelle on "More Than Surviving," turning its techno thump into a glide. "More Howl, More Keening" recalls Smith's older productions, with a stripped-back skeleton that leaves room for a gurgling lead to flit back and forth, as if it were caught in a game of Pong. Aside from their exaggerated kinetic motion, the best thing about these tracks is the playful modulation of chords. This might have something to do with Smith's new focus on hardware.
Ambivalent's remix feels flat compared to the originals. He turns "More Than Surviving" into a streamlined jam that's more Continental Europe than American Midwest. It will please DJs looking for something straightforward, but the rest of More Than Surviving is a more creative style of techno.
Although ostensibly a techno project, Noncompliant has a house-influenced bounce. This comes across best in "The Very Last Inch Of Us," where a wobbly synth lead, dubbed-out snares and a mischievously bobbing bassline play off each other. The kick drum bounds like a gazelle on "More Than Surviving," turning its techno thump into a glide. "More Howl, More Keening" recalls Smith's older productions, with a stripped-back skeleton that leaves room for a gurgling lead to flit back and forth, as if it were caught in a game of Pong. Aside from their exaggerated kinetic motion, the best thing about these tracks is the playful modulation of chords. This might have something to do with Smith's new focus on hardware.
Ambivalent's remix feels flat compared to the originals. He turns "More Than Surviving" into a streamlined jam that's more Continental Europe than American Midwest. It will please DJs looking for something straightforward, but the rest of More Than Surviving is a more creative style of techno.
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Published /
Wed / 5 Apr 2017 -
Words /
Andrew Ryce -
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Tracklist /
01. More Than Surviving
02. The Very Last Inch Of Us
03. More Howl, More Keening
04. More Than Surviving (Ambivalent Remix)
Los Angeles
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