quête:mälevolent

Jonny Rock is somewhat of a sorcerer, an omnipresent eye that gathers secret ingredients from far and wide—old school House oddities, hypnotic melodies of the Orient, the furthest reaches of Disco, the easy pace of Turkish psychedelic funk—fusing it all into his own shrouded code, a string of immaterial messages, both subliminal and lucid, that highlight his eccentric sense of storytelling and nuance. He imbues a sense of familiarity in his music, implying history that might not be studied but still feels learned, a quality inherent to productions born from a vast catalog of influence (and the inseparable sample material). Jonny conjures euphoric acid flashbacks, herds of crowds through Istanbul alleys, the misty morning residue from raves of yore, orchestral winds blown across the Aegean riviera, and he manages to concentrate their essence into singular details such as a snare drum. Both sides of his eternally-awaited ESP debut lean toward his dark arts—'Tye Die Techno' drives a relentless hard-edged drum kit that could throw an otherwise self-respecting Goth into a heated breakdance battle, while the title track and theme, 'Ode To A Happening On Earth,' plays with the imagery of ritual, fantasy and role-playing—but throughout this malevolent stew, there is a sustained hint of the artist's playful nature. No matter how murky the trip becomes, Jonny is always there, a light at the end of the tunnel, with a big hug to reassure that everyone will be OK. He is one clever bastard—if you know, you know.

Finally, the battle is about to reach its thrilling finale after three exhausting rounds. Our pugilists are staggering on their feet and the bookies are running around frantically, taking the final bets. Will the Bad Guys suckerpunch the Good Guys into oblivion, or does team Good have an epic deathmove in store for its malevolent adversaries Amsterdam native Nachtbraker steps back into the arena for the fourth chapter in the saga. The Quartet Series label boss and Heist and Dirt Crew mainstay has defected to the bright and sunny Good Guys. Piano chords, chopper effects and toms are the main ingredients of his funk-laden and groovy energy drink. Better than steroids they say. Laurence Guy (Church, Rose Records) joins forces or heads in this particular case with a much-needed supplement that tugs on your heartstrings with its lush keys and deep pads. This London lad has been stirring up the scene with his flawless and addictive chords, not to mention the big support he's getting from maestro Move D. Will this dapper duo be strong enough to floor the misfits featured on the flip Great precaution is imperative with two heavyweights in the other corner. First mr. Tommy Vicari Jnr (Cabinet Records, YAY Recordings, AMMO84) comes barging in. This Sheffield veteran has been making killer cuts for years now and is about to step into the ring with his slamming snares, and wonkly wobbly bassline swinging around a phat kick. To keep both The Bad Guys feet on the ground LK (Shall not Fade, Hokkaido Dance Club) adds some extra meat with a deep, heavy bassgroove, while a sexy vocal and steady chords create that gangsta vibe that will boost the Bad Guys' confidence.

The latest chapter in the unfolding story of Chronicle finds the New York techno label reaching out to Japan once again, calling upon the considerable talents of Hironori Takahashi to deliver a nerve -shredding manifest on cinematic scope and malicious intent in the darker corners of contemporary techno. Takahashi has previously shared his vision for malevolent dancefloor crushers on such highly regarded labels as Semantica and Stroboscopic Artefacts, not to mention holding down a job at the world-renowned Disk Union record shop in Tokyo.

Proceedings start somewhat inviting on EVENT0009, as the warm, dub-inflected chords of 'Ariast' drift through the stout rhythmic throwdown with orchestral grace. There is of course plenty of space left for brooding, uncertain elements underneath this melodic calm, but it's still a positively mellow offering compared to the jackhammer drum damage of 'Dazre' with its monstrous industrial intent and soaring sound design.

'Cecilleatis' is a more patient beast that simmers its tough ingredients into a predatory whole, using atmospheric pressure instead of sheer volume to create the required intensity. It's not all steel furnace fury though, as the track comes equipped with an epilogue that cools the fires of the EP with some glacial tones and distant machine bleeps that continue Chronicle's commitment to showcasing different sides of their chosen artists.