<REVIEW> Audiochrome: Techno Unit 30 (International Audiochrome - 2000) When I first heard that Larry Kucharz, he of the hyperextended Fairlight tones, was doing a "techno album", I was afraid that it meant a return to his early roots a la Unit 23, which featured clinically stark, staccato tonal bursts. With the opening track (U301) of Techno Unit 30, Larry (appearing under the nom de disc of Audiochrome) seems to be doing just that... But after a few echoey repetitions, a more pronounced 4/4 beats appears, followed lush tones and self-replicating trills over the top... and hey, while a bit sterile still, there's a definite groove happening here! Layered elements come and go, a brief "bass" riff, whispy synth gusts, and various looping effects, all powered by a drivingly straight forward beat system. As if becoming more accustomed to the genre, U302 (9:44) becomes looser right away... the flow seeming more natural, the movements more reflexive, the low end funkier. Cool and mechanical, U303, while peppy enough, seems more robotic. With deep organ-like pulsations topped by crystalline blasts, U305 (5:30) explores various percussion sounds including pattering cymbals, woodblocks and faux handclaps. A rough serpentine pulsation wriggles through the otherwise dreamy breezes of U306, giving the whole scene a darkly danceable quality. Lively synth energies build as U308 takes off then locks into a seductively trancey rhythm; led by its riffling bass riff, this track simply rocks! U309 closes the festivities, layering its softer synthclouds over the mid-tempo rhythm structure beneath.
Lingering after the music, the questions remain... are Larry's new sonic directions Techno enough for the true aficionado of the Detroit Sound? Are they too removed from the Kucharz-style to satisfy previous followers? While those quandaries will have to be answered on a personal basis, I must express my admiration of an artist who's so willing to break through any preconceptions of what his sound is or should be... and for one who does it this well. An interesting endeavor in style-blending, even if only for this single project. Don't expect to see Audiochrome playing at some NYC rave, but with 8.4-ranked Techno Unit 30, Larry Kucharz steps out from his definitive synthscapes, and onto a digital dancefloor, on his own terms. Hear traditional techno forms as filtered through the prism of a musician whose roots are decidedly outside of that scene. In case you missed it, we interviewed Larry Kucharz last December. David J Opdyke AmbiEntrance: http://www.spiderbytes.com/ambientrance ---------------------------------------------------- available from Hypnos http://www.hypnos.com/Merchant/merchant.mv ----------------------------------------------------------- available from BACKROADS MUSIC toll free (800) 767-4748 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] website: backroadsmusic.com ----------------------------------------------------------- Visit the International Audiochrome Website at http://www.hypnos.com/kucharz .htm
