Jack is back. What I like about Jack Digitals is you know what you're going to get; good quality, accessible techno - but there's always something a little different from the crowd to help it stand out.
This time round we have a 3 tracker from Mike Mackeeg as a solo artist, Mike Mackeeg and Justin Steel and Lofty & John Kirven. This is It, the solo offering from Mike Mackeeg, has such a beautiful intro and atmospheric build up I'm really pulled in. The lush pads, distant sounding swooshes, and effected synths provide a perfect backdrop to what you think will be the most blessed out techno record you've heard for some time. The overlaid riff in the first break is doing its best to transport me to some sun washed paradise. But then, whooah, like a mugger from a dark alley that ASBO of a bassline is all over you. Big, phat, grimy and aggressive, I'm back in Lewisham again. I like and dislike the bassline in equal measures; it drives the track and is awesome on a club system but I do find it a touch overpowering. However This is It is a standout track and with support from King Unique it sure does have the quality seal of approval.
Despite being from a completely different artist Tear Out follows a similar format; another inspired intro and melody in the underlying track – this time with two melodies playing beautifully against each other, interspersed with effected percussion and some great atmospheric chants. Once again a thug of a bassline drives forward, this time in a slightly more electro style but as the melodies build it sits better in the track. I do like the fact this sounds like nothing else that's around at the moment, a true crossing of genres from techno to tech-house to electro. Support is huge on this from the awesome Anil Chawla and Tom Pooks for example.
Mike Mackeeg and Justin Steel finish up the package with Chimera, another individual techno offering with melodic elements and a rolling bassline breaking down into a riff that I'm having trouble getting on with. Riffs I'm good with, and this one should work because it sounds a little like a Tiger Stripes doodling, but something is not working for me on this one. Taking that out of the equation I would recommend an EP with two tracks out of three that are highly useable dance floor muggers. Not only have these fellas got an ASBO, they've got a doctorate to go with it – a highly unusual combination.