BnB Review: Aril Brikha - Deeparture In Time Revisited

Written by Youri Jozee

Detroit Techno -

Swedish producer Aril Brikha's critically acclaimed Deeparture In Time album is about to be released with a bonus CD featuring previously unreleased tracks made between 1995 and 1999. Full review after the break.

Aril has been delivering some stunning tunes over the past few years (More Human, Winter), but his 1998 breakthrough track Groove La Chord and the Deeparture In Time album (released early 2000 on Derrick May's Transmat) are probably the quintessential releases he will be remembered for. It marked Aril's arrival as one of the one-to-watch faces in Detroit techno at the time, a status the skilled artist has long since surpassed. In fact, Aril's unique vision on Detroit techno has made him a crowd's favorite at festivals the world over due to the distincive, highly melodic and extremely catchy structures of his tracks.

This 'Revisited' edition of Deeparture In Time contains the remastered original tracks plus a bonus CD with previously unreleased tracks from an earlier era. And if you're a sucker for Brikha's sound, you can't afford to let this one pass you by. The original content of Deeparture In Time still sounds as fresh as it did ten years ago. The album slowly builds up from warm minimalistic textures to powerful but melodic techno cuts, during Aril manages to establish a warm, dreamy
atmosphere starring countless layers of synth chords, silky strings and acidy bass stabs. A timeless release that, even after ten years, could easily take on the competition with todays techno albums.

This also applies to the previously unreleased tracks on Disc 2. Despite some of them being nearly 15 years old, none of them sound outdated or out of place. Tracks such as the deep Lone Rider, Rising Sun and Way Back are early drafts of what eventually would become Aril's sound, but we would have believed him if he would have claimed these to be his most recent output. The quality of the production is top notch, and it is interesting to notice the many similarities
with todays house and techno. A great collection of rare cuts tailored for the demanding house and techno fanatic.

Our verdict
Deeparture In Time - Revisited has become a fantastic combination of Aril's landmark album and previously unreleased material. The album itself busrst with wonderful Detroit techno jams, while the second disc offers an interesting look into some of Aril's earliest productions. Highly recommended!

Rating: 8.7/10
Label: Art Of Vengeance
Release date: January 25th, 2011

Aril Brikha - Deeparture In Time - Revisited Tracklisting
CD 1
1. Embrace
2. Ottil
3. Sweet Lullaby
4. On & On
5. Setting Sun
6. Deeparture in time
7. Bytes
8. Groove La Chord
9. Headhunter
10. Read Only Memory

CD 2
1. Fuknit
2. Artoo
3. City Slicker
4. Way Back
5. Rising Sun
6. Electrocity
7. Tuff
8. Us (Part 1&2)
9. Aqua
10. Lone Rider