Here’s another prime cut from the post-Artificial Intelligence glory days of British techno. Luke Slater could be a bit hit and miss – for every great track there seemed to be plenty of banging rubbish – but when he nailed it he was right up there for me. The majestic opening track of his 1994 album for GPR, The 4 Cornered Room, is still a major goosebump-inducer, with layer upon layer of pulsing synths, dense strings, chirping sequences and deep, warm bass, and the use of a major key (a real rarity in techno and house) gives it a unique kind of optimistic melancholy. The music has certainly dated better than the sleeve, anyway…
NB: Delsin re-released the equally awesome Lost from the same album last year, and there’s plenty more good stuff on sister album My Yellow Wise Rug to get your teeth into too.
Nothin' But Magic 