Stephen J. Kroos’ last track ‘Mnenosyne’ picked up radio support from techno baron Dave Clarke (the White Noise show on Holland’s 3FM) and DJ plays from James Zabiela and Laurent Garnier. On the ‘Reperfusion EP’, Anjunadeep’s techno master Stephen J. Kroos continues his stunning return to form with another four track hit of bittersweet rhythmic trickery.
Both deeply trippy and highly technical, lead track ‘Reperfusion’ is a subtle but stirring 7 ½ minute techno epic that lulls you in with its atmospheric female vocal husks and a throbbing, beautifully textured groove.
Intricately constructed, ‘Angiogenesis’ is a slightly more dramatic, string-led affair with a poignant breakdown, while ‘Ubiquitination’ draws on deep house vibes to create a low burning groove full of jacks, tweaks and bounces.
So deep you’d need a ladder to climb back out of it, the hypnotic ‘Inflammation’ completes the package.
I think my confidence in the Anjuna brand is slowly being restored.
not my cup of tea.
edit* thank you anjunadeep / stephen for inspiration.
trancedanne
Such a boring release, i was listening to a Kroos tune while checking this thread out, but its something from the past when he was making trance and not generic prog house
kadomony
Stephen's past 2 eps have been rockin!
SYSTEM-J
ing hell, this is really good. When I was reading the blurb I was thinking "Dave Clarke and Laurent Garnier played Anjunadeep?" but when you listen to this you can hear why.
quote:
Originally posted by trancedanne
Such a boring release, i was listening to a Kroos tune while checking this thread out, but its something from the past when he was making trance and not generic prog house
This is not "generic prog house", for Christ's sake. Although anything outside trance is probably foreign territory to you.
Adam420
quote:
Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
ing hell, this is really good. When I was reading the blurb I was thinking "Dave Clarke and Laurent Garnier played Anjunadeep?" but when you listen to this you can hear why.
This is not "generic prog house", for Christ's sake. Although anything outside trance is probably foreign territory to you.
I gotta say I'm really surprised you're digging this. Even I think it's just good at best. Track 3 stood out to me the most, followed by 4. 1 and 2 seemed really average for some reason.
SYSTEM-J
quote:
Originally posted by Adam420
I gotta say I'm really surprised you're digging this. Even I think it's just good at best. Track 3 stood out to me the most, followed by 4. 1 and 2 seemed really average for some reason.
I'm the other way around on which tracks I like, although I still enjoy the whole EP. I know it's nothing new or groundbreaking, but I'm really enjoying the combination of Detroit and deep house... reminds me of the "real" tech house of the late 80s, and has a "warm techno" feel I'm very fond of. I tend to get turned off by techy sounds that are too sterile and processed. This has a looseness about the rhythms and a vibrancy to the synth timbres that I'd really love to dance to.
Here's another techno track I like that has this feel about it. Let me know if you enjoy this:
Adam420
I gotta say I'm even more surprised now:p
Ethereal is a fantastic track and I'm a big fan of Vince Watson's work in general. But, like I said, I'm even more confused now since I really wouldn't expect you to compare it with this EP.
I'm pretty sure that Vince produces on an all-analogue set up and you can really hear that in his tracks. This EP, for the most part, sounds, using your own terms, quite "sterile and processed" to me. Almost pretentious even. It doesn't come close to having the warmth that is present in Watson's track. I dunno, I mean I can sorta see what you're saying, particularly when it comes to the synths, but I've been after music like this for a few years now and the Anjunadeep EP, for the most part, does not do it for me.
Edit: and I think it's fair to say that we both appreciate when music is able to give us a certain feeling, like we're being transported to a place we've never even been to. I dunno, this just doesn't come close to having that effect.
SYSTEM-J
I don't think Kroos is on the same level as Vince Watson, but I think this EP sounds way less sterile and processed than most modern tech house and tech prog. I know an Anjunadeep EP from a Dutch ex-trance producer is never going to win many techno purist points (even if Dave Clarke does play it), but this sounds a lot more on-point than so much of the Detroit and Chicago-referencing tech about these days. I get more of a Vince Watson vibe than a Shlomi Aber vibe.
Adam420
Fair enough, and I agree with you on some of those points. I'll probably check this out again on the weekend when my ears are not as tired, and my opinion might change drastically.
Anyway, speaking of chicago and detroit referencing, have you checked Beatport's deep house section as of late? Man, that section of the site has gone to like you would not believe. Every 3rd track (and I do mean this almost literally) has either some black dude talking about being deep and like that, or some black diva vocals going on about house music and whatnot. It's almost sickening to me. I don't understand why the European hipsters like this so much. It's not as cool as they think, lol.
