Variable Frequency Technician ‎– The Arrival

A strong four-tracker from not-very-prolific producer and unsung hero Casey Tucker. Under an abbreviated version of the Variable Frequency Technician moniker, he provided one of the best tunes that ever saw the light of day on Plus 8, namely the superb "Location" which was released on the second From Our Minds To Yours compilation. This record more or less covers the same territory as the obscure EPs that he released on the Fine Balance label under his own name; that is, melancholia-tinged, moving music that bridges the gap between melodic techno and deep house. Lead track "The Arrival" is the most techno-sounding of the four tunes on offer, and although it's good, it's actually my least favourite here. "Rediscovery" utilises a bubbling bassline that resembles some of his Fine Balance tracks, whereas personal highlight "Cross Section" takes you for a smooth ride with all the class and refinement that the best house music has to offer. This record was a bit of an oddity on Probe (normally home to much more hard-edged music), which may explain why it's one of the label's more overlooked releases. However, it definitely ranks alongside the more well-known offerings on this Plus 8 offshoot.