BnB Review: Echologist - Subterranean

Written by Youri Jozee

Brendon Moeller aka Echologist is about to release his (already much talked about) seventh full-length album on his own Steadfast imprint… Full review below.






Whether it’s his slo-mo dub techno as Beat Pharmacy, his Echologist bass-scapes or the inventively layered beats under his own name, Brendon Moeller is by all means one of the most celebrated artists in underground and experimental house and techno. After numerous releases on labels such as Rekids, Mule, François K’s Deep Space Media and Third Ear (to name but a few), Brendon now returns as Echologist with a fresh collection of swampy, drone-ish, and extremely dubby techno. The result: Subterranean, a release titled to describe the depth of the compositions.

Left entirely beatless, the album takes the listener on a journey far beneath the earth’s surface, right to its fiery core in the form of sub-aquatic sounding compositions drenched in reverb, sinister effects and haunting, industrial textures. Album opener Subterranean, with its echoing sweeps, pulsating tones, and experimental scratch sounds marks the beginning of what will soon unfold as a highly intriguing listening experience, a feeling that is enhanced on the narcotic Filter Dub version of Brendon’s own, once playful Slow Burn. After the stripped Phased Rework of Ritual, a tune that clocks in at exactly 10 minutes, we come across the utterly stunning Deliberate. Packed with extremely clear but very heavy bass in pole position and spacious filters in the back, this tune manages to keep one’s attention despite, or perhaps because of, its very basic structure. Near its closure, the tune of Junkyards transmits bits of distorted noise and neurotic pulses like a broken radio left behind, after which the album closes with Creation, a tune that gets especially intense in the second half when scratch-like effecting sets in. Amazing.

Our verdict:
We all know that it takes serious skills to create dub techno worth listening, but we also know Brendon is more than proficient when it comes to churning out captivating music. His latest Echologist album is no less than a must-have for fans of the genre. The clear crisp production, the balance each track holds, and the both serene as disturbing vibes each track sends out all contribute to an organic and at all times wonderful listening experience. Although it may not be an easy album to listen to at first if you’re new to the genre, we advise you to sit back, relax, and let the music do its work. You won’t be sorry.

Rating: 9.0/10
Label: Steadfast Records
Release date: April 25th, 2011

Tracklist:
01. Subterranean
02. Slow Burn (Filter Dub)
03. Lunar Cycle
04. Ritual (Phased Rework)
05. Deliberate
06. Swell (Modular Take)
07. Junkyard
08. Creation

Echologist - Subterranean Album previews (SFV10CD) by PullProxy

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