Jichael Mackson - Breitling Orbiter 8

Looking back to review 2005, this is one of the few saving graces of a dismal year for minimal techno. In the last 18-24 months the scene has been diluted by labels churning out sub-standard minimal house and techno. Not so from Swiss label Phictiv. Placing the emphasis firmly on quality rather than quantity, the third release fuses deep techno and minimal acid. 'Tee Trinken In Braunen Salon' is a twenty minute long adventure into twisted acid and broken grooves. Amid swirling atmospherics the track rises and falls, full of intricate changes. 'O.T.' is a slow minimal crawler of a track, sounding like a Stewart S. Walker production, pitched down to -8. 'Used' somehow manages to reach even deeper. Within a whole heap of atmospheric crackle and hypnotic sour drones the track just drowns you. Highly recommended.