[Prologue]

Luca Mortellaro’s Stroboscopic Artefacts label has, in the short space of a year proven to be one of the more interesting techno labels in operation, as much for their consistent quality as their own self-confessed hard to define characteristics. Lucy’s own tracks are a bit easier to define, as these days the producer makes hard techno with burnished edges which sits outside of the current crop of rough hewn, raw sounding material being proliferated by his peers and indeed by other artists on his SA label. His latest release, Kalachakra for the Prologue label, adds to his impressive arsenal of releases, continuing to combine a introspective, almost meditative element to his tough techno.

Part of that meditative quality present in “Kalachakra” comes from a very human feel to the sounds used; an appropriation of rhythmic breathing mixed with the swirling ambiance of white noise sets the tone from the outset. As the track builds it becomes clear that despite the cold tone, nothing brutal is going to happen here. The transitions and fills are methodical, the chords without a trace of menace — even the blown-out speaker sounds are precise. There is an obvious nod to the canon of Basic Channel dub techno that shines through even more on the “Version,” where Lucy opens up the spatial atmospherics further while working more in the lower frequency ranges. DVS1 chimes in with two killer remixes, which work as the extroverted siblings to Lucy’s originals. Heavy wood block percussion and the air of threat that was absent from Lucy’s tracks make these sure-fire dance floor burners. The “Eyes Closed mix” goes for a more muscled approach, “Eyes Open” plays around with the melodic elements more. Whether your taste lies with the subtle strains of Lucy or the more immediate grip of DVS1, all four tracks here are of unquestionable quality and Kalachakra ranks as some of Lucy’s best work to date.