LFO ‎– Sheath

I bought this album on a whim in a record store in London. I'd been into British techno for a good couple of years and knew, despite not owning any albums by LFO, that they were some of the innovators of the genre. Sheath was the first album I picked up by LFO, and I have to say fans of good old British techno (see Aphex Twin, Black Dog, mid 90s Autechre) will lap this up! Made in 2003 it may not seem like the most innovative record for the time of its release, but it isn't making any pretentions. All it is, is a bit of lovely techno.
The single "Freak" catches you by surprise, and doesn't let go, while the beautiful opening track "Blown" sends you away, preparing you for the journey ahead. "Mummy, I've had an accident" displays Mark Bell's imaginative and exciting drum programming. Sheath also ends with a perfect album closer, "Premacy." With its Boards-esque detuned synths and floaty melodies, a perfect ending is made to a simple-sounding, quite old-school album, but nevertheless is on almost daily rotation in my stereo.

Wow, the long-awaited return of LFO. After years of being in the sidelines, Mark Bell finally reclaims his glory as one of the innovators of techno. But the field has changed a lot since his last album, and Bell finds himself mostly up to the task of taking on the youngsters. “Blown” starts off SHEATH on a bright note, an almost music-box feel, but “Mum-Man” quickly returns us to heavier, aggressive techno. “Mokeylips” sends a tentative hello to his bleep ‘n’ bass roots, while “Snot” rocks it out in 5/4 time, and unexpected and startling touch. “Unafraid to Linger” contrasts the low frequency tones with higher notes, bringing the original LFO concept firmly into the present, while “Sleepy Chicken” is a wave-diagram of a dreamer’s REM state. “Freak” is so old-school that it makes you smile just thinking about it. The rhythm-and-strings of “Nevertheless” doesn’t get too repetitive - - you can thank the short running time for that. And the album rounds out with the quiet and contemplative “’Premacy,” a track that shows Bell’s range, if nothing else. LFO is still alive, and don’t blow out your speakers remembering it, either.