- Originality. It's nearly impossible these days. But in the never-ending search for "originals," sometimes the well-crafted gets lost among the flood of clones crowding the marketplace. Basic Channel's dub techno, for instance, has been ripped off endlessly, but only a few that follow in their footsteps are worth checking. Hauntologists dipped in to this market with their first EP last December, catching the ears of Marcel Dettmann, Ben Klock and Ryan Elliott, but for the most part going largely unnoticed. Released in the same month as more prominent releases, the duo—Jay Patrick Ahern, AKA Add Noise, and To Rococo Rot and Bell Orchestre member Stefan Schneider—slipped under the radar. Yet another expertly produced 12-inch, falling through the cracks.
Where the first release was, for the most part, four variations of the same track, the second EP from the duo is anything but. Both tracks of the A-side offer a traditionally minimal approach: The first cut comes in with a Sutekh-styled funk and quirk, whereas the second aims to please those more interested in a Monolake or STL vibe—darker, more atmospheric, and decidedly more heady.
Starting off the reverse, the abstract rise and electronic buzz of the first cut might throw those timid listeners off, but letting the composition ride reveals a hypnotic, ethereal journey. Not wanting to leave the EP on a low note, the second track of the B-side is as playable as it is bold. A thick, booming kick drum and the shuffled funk of the hats come together beautifully with the clanging rattle of snares and a squared bass that comes in just the right moment. Random dabs of 303 and a harsh ride cymbal complete the package, proving that while we've come a long way from techno's creation, there's still a lot of unexplored space yet to discover.
Tracklist A1 EP2 A1
A2 EP2 A2
B1 EP2 B1
B2 EP2 B2