Emptyset ‎– Emptyset

I've always wanted to comment on this album, but for some reason resisted until now. When I look back at this resistance I think it stems from two factors that are both key to understanding its overall meaning and effect: one, I felt that it would be difficult to capture its true essence without resorting to voluminous amounts of prose, but perhaps more to the point, in a sense I didn't want other people to find out about it. This is silly as when it comes to electronic music I'm the first to preach transparency and accessibility for all, but there's something about Emptyset that makes me feel like it's a little secret that must be treasured and protected for only those who truly know and appreciate.

I think these tracks work very well as an album, but to be honest when I play them I generally find myself focusing on two in particular: Gate 2, and Beyond. Gate 2 is simply one of the best techno compositions I've ever heard. The oscillation and flutter of the sequencing is incredible, while its overall simplicity is a model of perfection. It works well in a number of functions and uses and mixes with many a track. It also offers a nice bridge between tempos and densities of sound, and furthermore, it can provide the "space" that so many mixes would stand to benefit from.

Beyond is the natural progression of Gate 2. The bass gets muddier and heavier, the distortion growls—a seeming assertion of the pair's belief that "this is techno". What I mean by this is Beyond has a sense of conviction; where Gate 2 only offers a tease of the true promise of Emptyset's sound, Beyond delivers on that promise in spades.

Maybe I like Emptyset because of their raw and experiential sound, where happy accidents appear to meet careful consideration and exploration. Whatever the case, this is one of my favourite releases from recent years and every techno purist should check it out.