ECHOCORD

Copenhagen’s Echocord returns this September with the ‘Invincible Nature’ EP by Altone,backed by a remix from Thomas Fehlmann and Another Channel. Atone is the guise of Tokyo’s Yuki Takasaki, one of the leading figures of the genre out of Japan with releases on the likes of Greyscale, Lempuyang, Vuo, Æ Recordings, Primary [colours] and

many more. His distinctive twist on Dub Techno has earned him accolades worldwide within the underground and here he joins the roster of the esteemed Echocord, the Kenneth Christiansen helmed label that’s been at the forefront of Dub Techno for more than two decades now. The original mix of ‘Naturally Unnatural’ opens, showcasing Altone’s unique style via subtly nuanced chord flutters, expansive reverberations, pulsating low end tones and ever unfolding,

subtly unfurling feel. The ‘Naturally Flowing Thomas Fehlmann Remix’ follows, the Swiss sonic wizard and former member of the legendary The Orb among many other projects delivers deep, throbbing subs and glitched out synth modulations intertwined with fragments of the original composition.

‘Unnaturally Balanced’ then opens the B-Side with Altone diving deeper into dub realms courtesy of ever alternating, billowing dub echoes and a raw, reduced rhythm section. The ‘Another Channel Version’ of ‘Unnaturally Balanced’ then rounds out the EP, embracing a more classic dub techno aesthetic as crunchy drums, swirling atmospherics and spaced out echoes ebb and flow amongst one another across the six and half minute duration.

Following the success of last years Babe Roots EP, Echocord revisits the package with reworks from Forest Drive West, Mike Schommer, Felix K, DB1 and Babe Roots themself.

London’s DB1 leads the package with his take on ‘Work Hard’, a mostly beatless interpretation fuelled by oscillating white noise, winding dub chords and snippets of the original’s dub reggae vocals. Hidden Hawai’s Felix K then ups the energy levels with a high-octane take on ‘Sufferation Time’, driven by upfront, shuffled and distorted drums and unfaltering, tension building dub swells.

The hotly tipped Forest Drive West steps up next to remix ‘Jah Nuh Dead’, a typically classy reimagining from the Livity Sound artist, stipping things back to ethereal pads, off-kilter percussion and sporadic echoes of the original composition. Former Deepchord member Mike Schommer’s take on ‘Bless Me’ follows, the pioneer of contemporary dub techno delivers a cinematic rework employing sweeping voices, glitched out electronics and resonant swells alongside the bouncy dub reggae groove of the original.

Lastly Babe Roots revisit one of their own compositions, ‘Sufferation Time’, delivering a more refined feel this time round with more impetus on drums and dark, hypnotic synths to contrast the original’s more vocal focused feel.

Echocord welcomes Mike Schommer onto its roster with hiz ‘Heirloom Signal’, featuring remixes from Mathimidori, TM Shuffle and Another Channel.

Mike Schommer co-founded Deepchord Records alongside Rod Modell and was associated with the label from 2000-2003, considered by many to be at the forefront of the second wave of dub techno in the early 2000’s following on from the legacy left by Basic Channel in the 90’s. Since then, Mike Schommer has gone out to unveil an impressive back catalogue of material beyond his own such as Steve O’Sullivan’s Mosaic, Greyscale, Lempuyang and Kontakt Records. Here the musical story continues with a new project for the equally beloved dub techno powerhouse, Echocord.

Opening is ‘Violet’s Dream’, a dropped tempo dub excursion employing an off-kilter, swaying rhythm section, pulsing subs, spiralling echoes and spring reverberations, Mariner’s Dub follows and employs broken percussion alongside hazy atmospherics and expansive stab textures before ‘Moon Serpent’ concludes the original material on the A-side, embracing a more loop-led feel with choppy stab sequences, robust 4/4 drums and resonant flutters.

The ’ Another Channel Version’ of ‘Violet’s Dream’ kicks off the B-Side, diving deep into a true roots reggae aesthetic with organic percussion and heavy doses of bottom end intertwined with the original elements. Mathimidori’s ‘Sensuikan Remix’ of ‘Mariner’s Dub’ then delves back into raw dance floor energy before TM Shuffle’s interpretation of ‘Moon Serpent’ rounds out the EP on a raw, reduced tip with stripped down drums and intricately processed stab lines.