Terence Fixmer ‎– Machine EP

Great EP, but for me, it all comes down to the Speedy J Rez take on Fixmer's machine. Eleven minutes of tension building, amassing of disturbing metallic sound effects, hisses and bleeps courtesy of disfunctional lathe machines. Not really hard or fast, but the way Jochem tickles your mind and teases the listener's patience by constantly keeping them at the edge of their seats is beyond comprehension here. The manipulation of break down/pre climax segments is breath taking. Using industrial undertones while shifting harsh, piercing layers from the background up to the forefront and back, Speedy J creates a seriously effective crowd pleaser here. The only thing you have to remember is to play something punishing and hard to the bone after this.
Fixmer's original is similar, only shorter. Slightly less on the EBM and electro tip he's known for, he churns out one straight for the dance floors here. Basically, it uses the same patterns and tricks as the Speedy J version, it's only that Terence lacks the ability to construct and deconstruct tunes, as well as create a nervous atmosphere, in a way Speedy J has done many times over the years (his remixes of Point Blank and Klark, Krekc, Punnik...), so it's a clear call for me.
Fixmer's 6 Am Dub Version and the Machine Tool numbers might namely work as DJ utensils, as personally, I have a pretty tough time going through them. But still, staying true to the Electric Deluxe legacy, the last two tracks are plain and simple tools, which I am quite certain, a skillful DJ will incorporate into his set and create quite something to get the crowd hyped. But on their own, they just lack the memorable arrangement and overall feel the first two tracks had.