Monolake – Hongkong

Double LP reissue out now via hardwax
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A wonderful journey into dub and techno, coherent as a whole with an amazing space... Perfect selection of instruments for the composition. I've been fascinated since its release. The strongest production of Monolake. 5/5

I think Index is pretty good and feel like it fits just fine between Cyan and Lantau.

Yeah an opus. Only way to describe it. It was the only CD in a vinyl store in '98... picked it up and it's always a place I can return to when I'm feeling unsure of the world. I have a lot of monolake specifically on CD's... it's the right format for me... having to disturb the flow by moving to flip a record seems contradictory. I prefer to turn off the analytical and conscious part of my brain and just completely let it envelope me, foreknowing I am in good hands. I cant wait to walk around hong kong one day with this in my ears.

I'm going to flatout `eschew any pleonasm and excess faux-intellectual journalistic verbiage, as none is really required. Quite simply a motherfucking opus of techno music. Monolake, on this release, have perfected the minimalistic and dub ethos. Monstrously superlative sonic spacialism, constant yet paradoxically incremental alteration, authentic ambient soundscapes (yes, read the liner notes) this record has it all. Additionally, the terrain traversed is diverse, from banging up-tempo techno to dubby beat odysseys to ambient washes. One is committing a disservice most egregious if they do not possess a copy of this record.

5/5

Monolake’s <I>Hongkong</I> album is an impressive journey, warm and fantastic. The opening track, “Cyan,” starts with ambient noise, like a recording of an insect farm, and glides seamlessly into a deep, minimalism, while “Index” is slightly darker and harder. If you’re in the mood for some quiet breaks and dubbed out synths, “Lantau” is the way to go; if you prefer the dubbiness but want a slow house rhythm, then you can’t go wrong with “Macau.” “Arte” is nothing but deepness, and “Occam,” though it starts with indecipherable chatter, quickly moves into a rhythmic groover. The final track, “Mass Transit Railway,” is a train of ambience, slowly pulling out of the station. Get on board before it’s too late.

"Occam" sends a shiver through my veins everytime I hear it. It's a perfect example to point to when detractors claim that this 'sound' is repetitive. Monolake subtly and patiently wring changes on the track over seven plus minutes. A shocking, epic exercise in dub structures and the cold warmth of analog freefalls.

This is great, this record makes you kinda drift whith its big travelling, very minimal techno rythms.
You get tracks both with that dubby techno feel and tracks with experimental dubby chill out rythms. CHECK!!