Source ‎– Organized Noise

The debut LP of Robert Leiner on R&S records after releasing two EP:s on the swedish Ohm label and one promo EP on R&S. This is the record that made Leiner a name in the industry, and earned him a global reputation for his fuse of trance, techno, acid and hardcore elements. Showcasing Leiners supreme studio skills and talent for layering sounds to create (for the time) complex soundscapes, this is undeservingly overlooked classic.
First track Vagator kickstarts O.N. with a 142 BPM kickdrum and percussive bassline to die for. Named after a beach in Goa, this is miles from the bright and melodic goa trance, with a dark and mysterious feel and a tension that is maintained throut its seven minutes endurance. A hardcore techno track with trance ingredients wich has aged way better than most of its contemporaries, much due to the tight production and deep, mysterious mood.
Second track Eclipse is more of a straight techno track, again with deep percussive elements and progressive synt lines. In retrospect, Eclipse sounds a little like an early prototype for the drum based creations by the likes of Adam Beyer that would dominate swedish techno from the mid to late ninetes.
The third track Neuromancer is probably the best known of the album, but to me, Leiners musical interpretion of William Gibsons SciFi novel is the track on O.N. that has aged with least dignity . Even tough it might sound a bit cheesy nowdays, Neuromancer was in the time of its release (one year ahead of O.N. as it was featured on the second Order to dance compilation on R&S records) on the forefront of the rapidly evolving trancesound, with its arpeggiated synth lines wich Leiner continued on the 1993 Source Experience double LP with much greater results.
Fourth track The real thing is the most typical early nintes stomper, with a lovely over the top kick drum. Filtered percussive loops and ghostly vocal samples again creates a mysterious feel that make this a far more interesting listening experience then the bulk of the hardcore output of its era.
Following up is Squeeze, a different take on one of the tracks featured on the Source EP. This is a fast paced trancer with atmospheric layers of sound over a huge analogue bassline that evolves thruout the song, at times completely taking over to create a sublime crescendo. Slightly brighter and more atmospheric then the Source EP version, Squeeze is a great example of Leiners more progressive works, that in the following years would result in classics such as Elektra and Point Zero.
Analysis continues in the same vain, altough the hardcore influence is more evident and the tempo is set at around 150 BPM, perhaps a bit fast for todays ears. Lush pads and at times complex percussion make this a a great, slightly industrial banger for the deepest night.
Rather surprisingly, track number seven, Release it is a hard house tune with a uplifting feel and more of a party banger than the rest of O.N. To me, it does not fit with the rest of the containts of O.N. and togheter with Neuromancer, Release it has not aged very well.
Last track Beyond time is the deeper sibling of release it and a much better attempt at house harmonics, with a feel somewhat related to Dave Angels mid ninetes works. Melodic yet deep, this is a great example of what techhouse used to be and a fine finale to a great record.

To sum up, Organized Noise is a superbly crafted album that has aged way better than most, if not all of its contempories, and one of the best releases from an artist who in the following years would lay the foundation for the modern progressive trance sound as well as producing some of the best ninetes techno. O.N. is part of dance music history and should be in the collection of anyone with a serious interest in underground dance music!
Stay hep / ND

This record had a non negligeable success after its release in 92-93 when some of its tracks became rave stompers. Robert Leiner played live or djed in huge rave parties in Germany and France.
Beyond Time is an excellent house track based on a simple groove but still playable today in a hardhouse mix with a guarantee of crowd cheers.

Robert Leiner's debut LP ( first release was the blue "Source" promo EP. after having worked as the main engineer in the R&S Labs (studio) for a couple of years.
Rather dense sequencing with a lot going on in most of these tracks, making it a bit difficult to listen and dance to.