Changing Seasons - Octal Industries (Vertex)

Title: Changing Seasons

Artist: Octal Industries

Label: Vertex Recordings

Cat Number: VERTEX 002

Genre: Dub Techno

1: Robglet (ASC’s Grey Area Remix)

2: Another Day (G.R.I.T. Breathe Dub)

3: Borg Tekin (Mike Schommer’s 88 Beatdown)

4: Forever (Reconstructed By Octal Industries)

5: Another Day (Ohm’s Morning Glory)

If you’re after a glorious double pack that explores the many textures and veneers of the dub techno oeuvre, then this fine release on Verdant offshoot Vertex should be your guide. Jonas Thor Gudmundsson, aka

Octal industries is just one of a rich crop of Icelandic artists who have been pushing this sound for around twenty years now, continually honing their craft in the same way as their ancestors developed their saga telling skills during the middle ages. By and large however, the honours are in the hands of a range of remixers, with each bringing something new and vital to the table. Impossible to pick a favourite because they’re all ace; but the tidal wash of ASC’s ‘Grey Area Remix’ is something special, and doesn't seem overlong at around thirteen minutes. The G.R.I.T. ‘Breathe Dub’ is pure, metallic dub heaven, ‘Forever (Reconstructed By Octal Industries)’ is similar, but slightly slower and a little more intricate, while ‘Another Day (Ohm’s Morning Glory)’ is gossamer light dub bliss. Finally, Mike Schommer slows thing right down to a pace where beats become flecks on the horizon. Lovely stuff!