Shed - The Traveller

Shed - The Traveller

Ostgut Ton

Two years ago I was somewhat dismissive of Rene Pawlowitz’s last album, “Shedding the Past”. That release I felt didn’t really begin to come up with what the title suggested, drawing upon a number of ideas and influences but somehow failing to create a cohesive sound. “The Traveller” though evokes something of a journey for Pawlowitz and to his credit he’s come up with something very much his own here to demonstrate that his musical craft is beginning to shape into a more coherent force.

For a city that emits a powerful musical signal of its own, the evolving and mutating beast that is dubstep has been a strong influence on Berlin. Having said that, the deep association with bass is nothing new to the denizens of Kreuzberg and the like and more importantly, they have also taken great steps not to imitate what they hear, instead carefully merging ideas and forms into an altogether more individual sound. Pawlowitz’s productions have matured with the excellent sparse melodies he chooses but nonetheless don’t lose their raw primal power. The crushing kickdrums that have been typical of his “Wax” (10001 - 30003) material are in evidence throughout and there’s a simplicity about this album within the narrative that makes you want to hear more.

It’s not hard to hear the early 90’s rave sound that was such a big influence on him and that’s in evidence from the start with the churning bells of opener “STP2”, which eschews melody for the sort of atmospheric opener that we’ve come to expect from all techno albums. “The Bot” ups the tension with some dubby, sparse keyboard stabs laid over a haphazard rhythm, Pawlowitz holding the listener’s attention despite the relative lack of musical action before the vintage sounding chords of “Almo - Action” take you to the core of the action. If his previous material was overtly rhythmic, then this is a prime indication of a new direction. Evoking the bucolic greatness of Reload and those legendary Warp records, it seems a little out of place with the crushing simplicity of contemporary Hardwax records. That’s no criticism though because unlike the previous album, these paeans to that golden area carry a more individual tone to them. “44A” combines Pawlowitz’s undoubted mastery of dancefloor rhythms with a delicate, crystalline melody but wisely doesn’t outstay its welcome at just over 3 minutes long.

Like Marcel Dettman’s debut album on the same label, these releases on Ostgut Ton have a real sense of direction in them. By track 9, “HDRTM” pitches the listener headlong into sensory overload, Jackhammer kickdrums and radiant swirls of noise merging together in an almost psychotic fashion. “My R-Class” is similar, showing Pawlowitz’s unremitting faith in sheer, relentless minimalism. There’s time at the end for a dreamy breakbeat track at the end, recalling a time when the genres sat together happily.

It’s difficult to imagine that the period Shed wants to realise or at remember through his music is now nearly two decades old. Just as a new generation of producers enthuse and restore the classic acid sound of Chicago and Detroit, it’s inevitable that sooner rather than later we will see them raiding the back catalogues to revisit Warp, Eevolute, Rising High and plenty of other labels from that time. However to his credit, Pawlowitz has with “The Traveller” managed to give us a bit of the past without losing his place at the forefront of a new musical force. This is a strong, textured release that combines the raw power of his minimal drum programming and a hithero unseen musical side.

Toby Frith

Comments

[darkfloor]

Great review. Looking forward to picking this up. I really liked Shedding the Past and if your review is accurate ;) it seems I'll more than like his follow up.

Any idea who/what is going to be on the remixes that are sure to follow shortly?