Planetary Spirit - Photonz (Naive)

 

Title: Planetary Spirit 

Artist: Photonz 

Label: Naive

Cat Number: NAIVE016

Genre: Techno

1: Planetary Spirit

2: Badagas

3: Circumference

4: Earth2

I do love a concept release, which is why the ancient idea of “Could planet Earth be considered a living being? And if so, could it be seen as the physical vessel of a planetary-level spiritual entity?” as posited in the Photonz press release for ‘Planetary Spirit’ makes such silly reading. Thankfully, we’re here for the music. And the title track, which apparently embodies the thinking behind said abstraction, kicks us off in fine style. It’s a wonderfully dramatic piece of big room techno, the type that Emperor Ming would make while starching the vast collars of his collection of silk shirts. Something sonic to occuoy the Eye of Sauron. ‘Badagas’ is, by comparison, an understated 5 minutes of hepped up Gamelan. ‘Circumference’ strays back into more scything beat territory, with a low-key, but busy low end dominated by buzz saw flourishes and ant-like detail. ‘Earth2’ goes deeper and more deliberate with a slowed-down excursion into the depths of subtle dissonance, and eloquently rounds off this varied package.