Stewart Walker, "Reclamation: 1997-1999"

It is incredibly difficult to make techno music that isn't incrediblyboring. Being a person who has never really enjoyed/embraced the raveculture, I would find these events stale and uninteresting. I wouldenjoy dancing to the work of some of the DJs, because they were doingthings that were innovative, different. And they weren't clutteringtheir music with annoying keyboards and house-girl voices that make youwant to run for cover. Stewart Walker, a minimalist techno efficianado,released this set last year, partially to start his own label and totide fans over until his second proper LP.
A collection of previouslyreleased material available on the rare 12" EP or odd release as wellas new material never released, "Reclamation" is pretty good. Walker ispart of the school I like: minimal sounds, mainly percussive beats andminimal keyboards, with little or no added flourishes that detract fromthe overall mix. Unfortunately, the sonic palette limits the musicsomewhat, as is found on this release. A lot of the work is repetitive,with the same beats per minute and tempo, though it is a cut above therest in terms of composition. Walker makes the most of every track,throwing in interesting samples and making them part of the beat ratherthan sitting by hoping they make an impact on the listener. Thestandout tracks are ones where Walker breaks the mold he usually setsfor himself, manufacturing stuttering beats of fancy and grooves thatalternate bass notes of the lowest frequencies to get your ass moving.As a collection of previous work, this is definitely worth hearing, butI look forward to hearing what Walker produces next, as well as the newreleases on his label, Persona.

samples:

• Amateur Surrealism
• Damaged People
• Its Process Not Substance

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