Buy link: beatport.com/release/waves/4615031
The best artists and labels always keep you second-guessing, rbarely working to templates and regularly releasing music that’s fresh, innovative and exciting. The STUG label’s modus operandi over the past few years has been discerning house and techno, so it’s particularly interesting to see label owner Bart van Rijn switch direction on STUG012. Over the course of four tracks, he reminds us of his knack for the spectacular, with each track playing its part in what’s a thoroughly stunning release.
The spiky, dexterous sounds of ‘SEVEN’ emerges first, amongst a cacophony of madness that never lets up throughout. Banging, but also featuring plenty of personality, it’s a brilliant slice of nuanced, wobbly techno that’s every bit as unpredictable as the man behind the music. ‘Reflect’ goes heavy on the sci-fi influences, with its laser-like synths and tense snares injecting it with a firm dancefloor impetus.
‘WAVES’ is the most ethereal and dreamy of the tracks, with this one characterized by clever percussive elements and sprightly, interjecting bells. ‘DRONE’, meanwhile, is a hypnotic, spine-tingling cut that transports the listener straight back to the depths of vintage Detroit. A barebones track that harks back to minimal planes, it still manages to create quite an impression. An all-round innovative release that speaks volumes of the producer’s ingenuity, STUG012 is a record that’s likely to earn repeated spins long after it’s released.
Release date: October 11th, 2024.