FireScope Records, the scion of B12 Records, releases its first album
from none other than its chief commander, Steven Rutter. The second
credited solo release from Rutter, it signals another step away from B12
as he steadily builds on a singular vision of work under his own name.
With previous releases on labels such as Warp, Soma, Delsin, ART, Buzz
and De:Tuned, one of the original founders of UK techno is guided
inward for this collection of 12 brand new tracks. Developed over 2
years, these tracks have previously appeared in his
numerous solo live
shows but are presented here for the first time as one complete
narrative. The album, titled ‘BrainFog’, is the creative and spiritual
catharsis of a journey beginning circa 2010, which saw the producer on a
hospital bed, hours away from an ascent to the heavens and
subsequently depressed and anxious while seeking liberation and escape
through music. The daily battle with darkness continues today and this
album is his emotions laid bare. Hauntingly beautiful in its fog-filled
melancholy; it’s our pilot’s only solace on the lone flight to recovery.
The opening track, ‘Sleep Gives Freedom’ is a slow, risky start for an
album but pays tribute to that safe place which one can escape from
everything that surrounds. Put this on to escape and be lulled into a
walk through the fog. The following track ‘Statuesque’ stands tall as a
classic techno tune — a stomper with lush strings, tough beats and a
bassline that shouts loud and proud. Emotional and heartfelt with a
smattering of percussion, ’Memories of You’ is written for a best friend,
an orbiting soul who is now light years from earth.
Throughout the album, the clouds of despair and decay are never far
away, interspersed with bright but fleeting moments of lightness and
hope. ‘Cracked Reality’ slightly disturbs with its sparse and pounding
construction, before the decaying beauty of ‘Degenerator’ and its
mirroring track, ‘Oracle Unleashed’, offer two perspectives to the same
theme. ‘Squad Free Force’ throws back to early hip hop with its old
school drums topped with an eerie spin and warmly wrapped in heavensent
pads. The album’s two quirkier compositions come in the form of
’Infinity Engine’ and ‘Takedown’. With a pure 909 techno sound, ‘Infinity
Engine’’s incredible pads offer a path from sadness to elation and
happiness. A different live version may be released later in the year.
‘Takedown’’s chuggy sideways groove further breaks it down — no
matter who or where you are; there is always someone somewhere that
wants to bring you down, sometimes it’s yourself.
The album’s last track, ‘Hand in Hand’ is probably the most upbeat of
the album, and a call to take the hand of the one that is there for you,
whether in physical or spirit form. The drums and pads start the track
off, before a disjointed sliding bassline sets the scene for a top-line
string. Euphoric and uplifting, it is a reminder to respectfully embrace all
that which remains good in the world. As a punctuation mark, the final
note of the track is a full stop that puts an end to the journey from brain
fog to clear heart.
I give all that I am to this musical force that burns with me.
Finished in two different coloured vinyl a/b and c/d in a wonderful
gatefold featuring the artwork of Sarah Sparkes.
Includes unlimited streaming of BrainFog - [FS012]
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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