Monolake - Alaska Melting

Fantastic. This is truly the best thing I have heard from Robert Henke in a very long time. For some reason he has turned all the rotaries in Ableton up to 11 for this one.

Alaska is an incessant, driving dub techno piece. The sort of thing I wish DC *cough* would try and make. With a beefed up tempo, glitched dub stabs, rolling clattering hi-hats, and big FM bass notes, the tune ends up a winner. I would even dare to say it's a little short.

Melting is a little more atmospheric, its main draw is the washed-out pads that ebb gently in the background. Some dark, minor chords, lending a somewhat menacing atmosphere, behind the clicks and clacks of the hi-hats. It does not really have a hook like Alaska, but I will take it anyway, because the relentless 4/4 rhythm makes this a rare "atmospheric dark techno" treat that I have not encountered too often. Reeko explored similar territory on The Penitence, so this is welcome.

Recommended to any techno listener: even if you are not a fan, do not worry, this is not similar to the usual Monolake material.