Salbany - Crossroads (Paraiso)

 

Title: Crossroads 

Artist: Salbany

Label: Paraiso

Cat Number: PARAISO014

Genre: Techno

A1: My Life

A2: Crossroads

A3: Next Morning

B1: Mito

B2: Crossroads (Cisco Ferreira Lisbon Dub Remix)

B3: Mito (AMX Remix)

Digital bonus: Crossroads (Cisco Ferreira Elexated Mix)

This is more like a mini album coming, as it does, with three versions of the title track (one not available on vinyl, which is nice. More power to the digital bonus track!) And it’s unapologetic rechno all the way from “local legend-in-the-making Salbany”. These tracks are all good, but as with a lot of techno it’s nice to have something within the grooves that distinguishes them a little more than their relentlessness. So where the title track is concerned, I’m more drawn to the ‘ Cisco Ferreira Lisbon Dub Remix’ which slows things down just a tadge by using the backing synth washes as friction. His ‘ Elexated Mix’ is very Millsian, very insect menace, while the original is similar to the dub, but more in-your-face. All of these tracks will work wonderfully well in a big room with the speakers spitting air. ‘My Life’ is great. The spoken word and the keyboard flourishes taking it up a level. Of the two versions of ‘Mito’, AMX’s version is more stripped down and becomes more urgent towards its conclusion, and ‘Next Morning’ gathers momentum using an isolated drum roll and loping bass. This release swings from start to finish.