Title: Regenerate
Artist: Monobox
Label: M-Plant
Cat Number: M.PM040
Genre: Techno
A1: Rise
A2: Blackwater Canal
B1: Wargames
B2: Angel City
C1: Exoplanet
D1: Drydock
D2: Regenerate
Monobox has been a sporadic Robert Hood alias since 1996, with three M-Plant releases, and album in 2003 on Logistic, and a brief resurfacing in 2014 to celebrate M-Plant’s 20th anniversary. And from the first beat of this album you wish there had been more. The sound is now sharper and slicker, and this is important. Because even though this album continues the minimalist approach pioneered by Hood almost thirty years ago, more advanced production technology has brought it bouncing and funking into the roaring twenties. Of course it’s not as raw as it might have been back then, a little polished even. It’s still wears the techno trousers though. Hood’s production is without question one of the most distinctive in techno, from his early excursions into symphonic minimalism, right up to his gospel-inflected anthems and while I’m not suggesting he’s necessarily an easy name to pull out of the hat during a blind listening test, the collection we have here does more than enough to further consolidate his status as an essential machine funk preacher in a recording career spanning almost thirty years, give or take. ‘Exoplanet’ is everything I like about Hood, with knobs on. The medium-paced patient kick adorned with a minimum of fuss in the form of several electronically textured rhythm patterns. ‘Angel City’ proves that there’s still life in re-evaluating the techno fairground barrel organ approach for a new age. ‘Wargames’ is ominous, chin-stroking headspace techno, to be listened to while plotting the overthrow of your enemies drinking a glass of the hard stuff in a dimly lit study. ‘Regenerate’ is where you come for your intricate insect menace, a prerequisite of the best techno. Hood is at the peak of his powers on this wonderful piece of work, so let’s hope that Monobox becomes more of a going concern.
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