Harald Björk - Spring [CORLP40]

Various - Cocoon Compilation Q

Kamran Sadeghi - Anno Domini
Alex & Digby - Da Dang
Sebastian Mullaert - Ode to Be
Harald Björk - Spring
Carlos Nilmmns - Fragile fat. Genoveva
Rico Puestel - If I’d Care More
Söllscher & Siech - Pulse Train
Johannes Volk - Luminance
Fort Romeau -Sequence in D
John Tejada - Blitzar
Acid Pauli - Toms Heimweh
Baba Stiltz - All I Can (About You)

Artist: Harald Bjork
Label: Cocoon Recordings
Release Date: 23-06-2017

Cocoon Recordings presents „Q“ - the new edition of one of the longest running techno compilation series worldwide! We do not want to start again by mentioning how unbelievable it is that we have reached letter Q already ... and we do not even want to imagine how fast we will probably arrive at XYZ, if time continues to fly like this. The actual thrilling part of this compilation series is simply the fact that Techno seems to not grow any older in this form - isn’t this amazing?
Here, in the truest sense of the word, we have a compilation of timeless material before us. With a broad bandwidth ranging from „futuristic-deconstructive“ compositions such as "Da Dang" by Alex & Digby and "Fragile" by Carlos Nilmmns or the many contributions to Q that fancy almost anachronistic acid and trance influences: Everything sounds fresh and forward thinking!
The vocal parts and the arrangement of “All I Can (About you)" by Baba Stiltz appear like electronic singer songwriting. The musical approach of Baba Stiltz is slightly similar to big Pepe Bradock productions and their Dada aesthetic. In contrast to this, "Anno Domini" by Kamran Sadeghi follows the sound approach of early Maurizio / Basic Channel records and reminds us that modern techno does not always have to be impulsive and kicking, and certainly does not define itself over the most extreme "drops" (sick!).
Harmonies and melodies of all kinds and the almost dreamy and playful sound arrangements are something like the common element on Q. For example, “Ode to Be" by Sebastian Mullaert works like a decent sunriser that marks the end of a long night. We especially dig the almost shamanic vocalsamples here! Harald Björk takes it a few steps further in the harmony corner. His song “Spring" is on the edge to an ambient / chill out song and unfolds a a great hypnotic effect. "Toms Heimweh“ by Acid Pauli and the demanding "Sequence in D" by Fort Romeau follow into a similar direction, however both pieces are build on slightly more solid beats despite their melodic basic mood.
What brings us to the tracks of the middle section of Q - because there is a lot of material with even more power and floor potential waiting for us. Above all is "Blitzar" by US legend John Tejada. Metallically cool, but equally sexy and bass-heavy at the same time, Tejada throws crazy designed sounds on us - what an insane master piece! "Pulse Train" by Söllscher & Siech, on the other hand, follows a more traditional techno approach with a strong beat & bass foundation and cool acid lines that slowly build up in interaction with a driving ride. The „vapourspacy“ string sounds make the Detroit Techno reminiscence finally complete. All things acid is the way to go for Johannes Volk, too. His "Luminance" is a bit more consistent in an almost old-school acid manner and appears to be something like the most clubby track of the album. "If I'd Care More" by Rico Puestel is perfectly set in the tracklisting on position 6 as is turns out this one is something like the "all-embracing track" on Q: Puestel unites in his contribution the different approaches and lines of the other pieces and delivers the secret title track of the compilation. Here you can find dry and kicking beats, dreamy melody parts, but also hypnotic basslines and lots of crazy sounds in the arrangement. Exactly like the overall vibe of Q this one can’t described as "futuristic" and certainly not "oldskool" - it is simply timeless! Puestel brings the essence of Q to the point and this track alone makes us confident that there will an issue R following next year... „es wird immer weiter gehen, Musik als Träger von Ideen“ (Kraftwerk).