Convextion - Romantic Interface

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  • This latest EP from the much-lauded Convextion is for lovers of thick slabs of twilight synths and intricately programmed beats. Referencing classic Warp and the cinematic sweep of Detroit techno, 'Romantic Interface' is the work of a producer whose sound is easy to identify but curiously hard to pin down. The excellent A-side begins with 'Translucent Blue Display', which tears through its six-minute duration in a rolling charge of manic rhythms and robotic squelches. Wrapped in luxuriously lush pads that veil a mechanical infrastructure, the cut somehow manages to simultaneously be both futuristic and retro. 'Laconic', meanwhile, picks up where Convextion’s brilliant guest spot on DeepChord’s 'Vantage Isle' LP left off. Constructed out of milky delay feedback, shifting bass weight and chords that build into a pulsing frenzy, this is blunted techno imbued with a bit of Basic Channel’s spirit, and the result is fantastic. Unfortunately, the tracks on the flip are merely serviceable efforts that ape classic Detroit ('Salmo') and the ambient-tinged electro of early Aphex Twin ('Consumer Identity'). Marred by questionable baroque flourishes – perhaps intended to mask their mediocrity – neither track manages to achieve the effectiveness of the rest of the release. ‘Romantic Interface’ is worth your dollar for the first two cuts alone, but Convextion's self-titled debut is the better bet if you're looking for quality sounds from the Detroit-Berlin axis’ latest incarnation.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Translucent Blue Display A2 Laconic B1 Salmo B2 Consumer Identity
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