Page 81 - Zone Magazine Issue 030 - Lexicon Avenue

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Techno
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Menkee - The Aftermath
[Pro B-Tech ]
When he started out writing beats for hip hop crew “Ruthless Society”, few would see how fa, as a producer, Menkee, would come. Using only a sampler and an Atari computer to create his first techno releases, it led to his first vinyl release on Bacteria Records. Flying Rhino followed up, and his two tracks released on Underground Music Records really made people start paying attention. Now firmly signed with Pro B-Tech, his EP “The Madness in me” was a preview of what was to become his debut album “The Aftermath” The album opens with the gentle strings and pads of “Electro smoka”, before the track morphs into a progressive tech number. Tight drums and a deep sub before more aggressive and oppressive synths are brought in on the break. “La Locomotora” has a similar progressive feel. Opening with a distant sounding vocal and a growling synth, it paves the way for more gentle sounds throughout. “Amy is going home” once again has the progressive tech feel, with shuffling drums and shimmering arpeggios. “Lost souls” brings an element of funk to things, with a chunky house bassline and punchy drums, before the gentle, almost Arabian breakdown brings things all into place. Its a great track. “Slap the snitch” brings things down, with an almost trip hop intro, and frantic synth sounds. “Rusty sky” is a journey back into progressive tech. Rolling drums and filtered percussion sit perfectly with the bumping bassline and synths. “Khalina” opens with its simple filtered arpeggio before the clavs and filtered kick drum all open up and we're taken along on a trip through the skies. Ethereal vocals lift you above the clouds and the bass moves you along. “Memories” takes a darker tone, but still has enough energy to move the dance floor. Next is the only collaboration on the album when Menkee teams up with Kiberu for “Drone bird” and we are treated to a full on club track, with chunky bass and drums that punch hard. As things draw to a close “Secret Diary” is a track that feel like the final chapter in a story, almost a homecoming. Finally the album closes with the Ingo Vogelman remix of the opener “Electro Smoka”, and takes the track in a more pumping techno direction before adding some luscious pads and stabs to add body to the track.
A wonderful album, with its own sound that will hit hard on the dancefloor, or be perfect for road trips, or simply listening at home.
https://www.beatport.com/release/the-aftermath/2859837
Words By Joh Ricketts
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