Over the past five years, Dave Robertson has had a series of impressive releases on the likes of Dogmatik, Intacto and Adam Beyer ’s Truesoul. Under the guise of Reset Robot , his debut album, ‘Let Your Soul Outside’, is finally with us. And it’s been worth the wait, delivering a fantastic collection of tracks that work through a range of moods and emotions, whilst at all times keeping a firm grasp on that all-important groove.
‘Guitar Man’ opens proceedings like a glimmer of sunlight just before dawn; at first almost hesitant, before suddenly bursting forth in all its glory. Techno sensibilities underpin the wistful melody that keeps building in sweeping waves of intensity. Sounding like it was recorded in a steam-powered submarine and packing a delightfully buoyant bass line, ‘Little Alice’ picks up the momentum. The elements work beautifully together, like a finely tuned watch; each mechanism both essential to, and in sync with, the next, creating a whole that is both harmonious and alluring.
Carrying with it an air of subtle menace, ‘Sizzler’ launches into a pounding kick and a synth refrain that is at once wonky and toe-tappingly irresistible. The track seems to toughen up as it progresses, becoming increasingly belligerent in its insistence that you give yourself up to the dancefloor. Whilst a steady but forceful beat forms the basis for the next track, ‘Desi Beats’ changes direction slightly. An almost mournful cry from the ever-advancing army of synths marches towards you, intent on luring you into an analogue embrace you’ll want to cling on to.
‘Trademark Mole’ kicks off with an assured house groove that slowly but surely let’s loose its more deviant side in a swirl of enchanting synth refrains and percussive trickles. The track’s subtle twists and turns will undoubtedly keep the heads interested. That’s followed by the deeper sounds of ‘Scoop’, shuffling out of the speakers in a manner that will soon tease your hips into shaking a shimmy in no time.
With its straggle of percussive elements, a big bouncy bass line that sounds like it’s been mined directly from the earth’s core and a wonderfully catchy piano riff, ‘The Birth Of Terry Burrows’ is a cheeky little number that will ensure an explosion of smile sweeps across the dancefloor. ‘Mings Of Strife’ sounds like a snippet of a forgotten track from the Blade Runner soundtrack. Indeed, my only complaint about this album is that I feel this track could have been developed into something more, as its brief outing suggests a spellbinding quality that remains unexplored.
A burst of powerful bass chords and a tumble of crystalised percussion meld together in glorious union for ‘Sausage’, with Mr. Woo’s gentle, forlorn vocal perfectly complimenting the beat it sits astride. Add to that mix a synth that wheezes its way through the track like a broken accordion in a wonderfully off-kilter manner and you can only be further endeared to its charms. With a dark, brooding start, ‘Cynthia’ builds like the swarm of a disturbed hornets nest. An unrelenting, thick swirl of analogue delights crowd around you, seemingly beyond your reach almost as soon as they’re within your grasp.
A forceful, domineering kick and crisp bass line lead us into ‘Unprocessed Layer’, the type of track that will rough up a dancefloor, leaving it little more than a sweaty mess before returning to lurk in the dark corner of a bass bin, never once glancing back. The album finishes with the sumptuous ‘Ghost Machine’. Stirring synth work plucks away at your heartstrings, as a cascade of emotion pours forth from the machines, leaving the beat to get to work on those feet. A superb ending to a tremendous album.
‘Let Your Soul Outside’ is a truly outstanding debut that demonstrates Reset Robot’s craft, guile and diversity in a manner that will have you clamoring for more. Wonderful!
| Artist: Reset Robot Title: Let Your Soul Outside LP Label: Truesoul Records Tracklist 01. Guitar Man02. Little Alice03. Sizzler04. Desi Beats05. Trademark Mole06. Scoop07. The Birth of Terry Burrows08. Mings Of Strife09. Sausage10. Cynthia11. Unprocessed Layer12. Ghost Machine Our rating: 7.5/10 |  |
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