JAMES RUSKIN - The Dash

Hardly prolific - this is his third album in 10 years! - James Ruskin obviously has more than his hands full running his own Blueprint label.

The Dash is a departure from the usual dark techno Ruskin previously espoused for Tresor on albums such as Further Design and Into Submission; this time Ruskin attempts to deliver something fine-balanced between the dance floor and home listening.

Most of the time, this pays off handsomely. The opening Scene sparkles with chiming melodies and ghostly backing synths, although its not long before Ruskin’s muddy rhythms, twitching hi-hats and 4x4 techno beats take full control. Meanwhile, Torridon Voide has plenty of personality, with thick, juicy bass tones squelching brooding lead tones to some airy metallic swathes.

Glasshoppers is more experimental, almost falling under the guise of ambient techno, with its craggy beats churning beneath a dreamy, sci-fi synth lead, and JJ is a fine, fine track - beautifully layered with creepy Aphex ambiences atop extravagantly tailored beats and sparkling melodies.

More in common with the dark deftness of Namlook than Ruskin’s heroes Claude Young and Jeff Mills – their influence is more evident from a philosophical perspective - The Dash is a compulsive, driving techno album, overridden by some highly cerebral passages of electronica. It’s a highly accomplished workout, so for those who want more to their techno than a gallon full of soulless generic traits, this is definitely a winner.



	JAMES RUSKIN - The Dash
	8.0
	Tresor ~ TRESOR 233 ~ 10th March 2008
	Hardly prolific - this is his third album in 10 years! - James Ruskin obviously has more than his hands full running his own Blueprint label. The Dash is a departure from the usual dark techno Ruskin previously espoused for Tresor on albums such as Further Design and Into Submission; this time Ruskin attempts to deliver something fine-balanced between the dance floor and home listening. Most of the time, this pays off handsomely. The opening Scene sparkles with chiming melodies and ghostly backing synths, although its not long before Ruskin’s muddy rhythms, twitching hi-hats and 4x4 techno beats take full control. Meanwhile, Torridon Voide has plenty of personality, with thick, juicy bass tones squelching brooding lead tones to some airy metallic swathes. Glasshoppers is more experimental, almost falling under the guise of ambient techno, with its craggy beats churning beneath a dreamy, sci-fi synth lead, and JJ is a fine, fine track - beautifully layered with creepy Aphex ambiences atop extravagantly tailored beats and sparkling melodies. More in common with the dark deftness of Namlook than Ruskin’s heroes Claude Young and Jeff Mills – their influence is more evident from a philosophical perspective - The Dash is a compulsive, driving techno album, overridden by some highly cerebral passages of electronica. It’s a highly accomplished workout, so for those who want more to their techno than a gallon full of soulless generic traits, this is definitely a winner.