- Aquarian loves to push boundaries. On his early records, he was folding jungle and breakcore into techno before it was cool. This is what we get on the debut from AQXDM, his collaboration with Deapmash, a French producer who shares his taste for slamming breakbeats. "Roam" starts as pacey techno but morphs into noxious acid before breaks slam everything into oblivion. It's nine minutes of building pressure that could be obnoxious in the wrong hands, but it's executed with expertise and care.
The deceptively titled "Ballad" features a symphony of jackhammers that stutter in hyperactive patterns, leaving just enough breathing space. Where those two tunes are all about aggression, "Aegis" has a different kind of dynamic. There are gorgeous synths, ominous atmospheres and a Reese bassline that could have been snatched from an old jungle tune. It's heavy as hell, but it's also majestic.
TracklistA1 Aegis
A2 Ballad
B1 Roam