Tegma - Lo-Fi Adventures

The release on the Czech label Tribal Vision Records with the Scandinavian internals “Lo-Fi Adventures” is both an ode to technology of the contemporary dance music and tribute to retro styles. Album has menacing techno-marches (East Block (Cccp Mix)), and boisterous mix of disco and electro (What the Fuzz, Twister), and somewhat exhausting in its obtrusiveness bits of club techno-trance (Computer Disorder). In the new Tegmatekk release there is something distinctive from fresh dance-retrospectives, it is a clear idea of Sound Rotations. In Lo-Fi Adventures those rotations exist in almost every track: rotary sound pressure systems (Monday Star), whispering fx gyros and rattle of percussive blades (Who Stole My Oscilator), peeling turbo splashing of the synth parts (Circles) and magnetized vortices of growling transforming basses (Crank Up).

It is notable that the booklet from original CD says: musicians spent more time repairing and replacing broken equipment then recording material. The results of coping with technical problems like burned out processors, sound cards and hoarse sound speakers for a whole year of uninterrupted work are 16 tracks, 10 of which ended up part of the album.

Overall sound picture of this release is quite immaculate and is of rather high level. Collection of stereo events is quite common for current Tribal Vision releases and is pleasing to the ear. Layered compositions, trigger-based delays and filtering of the main instruments are also applied very tidily and with no audible flaws. For some the sound may appear somewhat dirty with all the hissing, whispering, crackling and samples distorted by vocoder. However, as Omar explained to me all those sounds are a tribute to the Lo-Fi aesthetics, which permeates the whole atmosphere of the album. In other words this is an aural mini-trip to the world of analog retro-culture, which was created using computers and high-end technology.

Alas, like any other monotonous process rotation could get boring rather quickly. That is why this release seemed a little bit too pushy to me, personally. But more attentive and aesthetical listener would certainly find the zest in this album and would return to it time and time again. In any case Lo-Fi Adventures deserves careful attention.

As noted elsewhere much to some hippies’ regret it seems progressive trance artists are venturing ever more often into electro house territories these days. Call me too broadminded but I take no issues with that. Hell, if progressive trance used to be all about dancing with a psychedelic edge Lo-Fi Adventures lacks nothing in danceability or tripability!

Right from opening track In All Ears I get the idea this is a kind of music that would be just perfect at an all-inclusive, no-boundaries, kick-ass, underground party in Monaco! This is extremely pleasant to listen to, yes, but never crossing over to the cheesy side. The cutting edge production obviously lends a big hand in creating this impression but if I am taken aback for a second by the sheer sound picture the melodies will pull me right back on track. Think Ticon 2am "Spitfire" ballsines Lo-Fi Adventures, for me, sets the pace for contemporary progressive psychedelic trance.

If this album does not end among my favorites for the year 2008 is setting out to be a great year!

Favourites? Look, they’re all good but twist my arm, kick me in the nuts and spit me in the eyes and I’ll choose In All Ears, East Block and Monday Star as my companionship. They’ll set you dancing, they’ll set you bouncing and, motherfucking unquestionably so, they’ll have you tripping! An easy 5/5.