Review Summary: Soul in the machine
When it comes to shaking speakers, Surgeon, aka Anthony Child, is a master of the craft. This 30+ year techno veteran knows how to put together engaging music, often doing so with famously minimal gear setups, and
Shell~Wave is one of his most impressive releases to date. But if you don’t listen closely, you might miss the soul in the machine.
On opener “Serpent Void,” we’re quickly introduced to jackhammer kicks, then dropped headfirst into rumbling bass that would give a jet engine a run for its money. This track sounds like its title: slithering, hypnotic techno best enjoyed in the void. And it does a bang-up job of setting the tone for the rest of the album. Throughout
Shell~Wave, Surgeon blurs lines between dub, krautrock, and industrial, simultaneously constructing and pushing through a sort of ‘digital valley of death’ riddled with distortion, frenetic percussion, and potent psychedelic atmosphere.
He also lets the music breathe. Tracks “Divine Shadow” and “Infinite Eye” are expertly placed in the tracklist to contrast with relentless 4x4 kicks; their lurching, broken-beat sound completes a graceful balancing act Surgeon is also well-known for using in his DJ sets. “Dying” is an ambient breath centered around a sample of the word ‘dying’ being spoken, then disassembled and reassembled, over and over again... A poetic middle point for the album.
Even with these sparing but effective changes in momentum, you’d probably still be forgiven for thinking the music here all sounds the same. Techno is an acquired taste, and among the genre’s fans, opinions about what constitutes “same-ness” diverge frequently. But beyond style, beyond boxes, and even beyond your own specific taste, there are two things that make this album worth your time. First, is the awe-inspiring precision on display in these tracks. When anyone, in any medium, has as much heart and skin in the game as Surgeon does, you know you’re in for an experience. The execution here is nothing short of incredible.
And the second? You guessed it. The soul in the machine. There’s a story being told through the tracks here: a search for meaning after decades spent in the scene & industry of techno; a quest for the feeling that made young Surgeon fall in love with techno in the first place, and an excitement for where the sound can go. What truly makes
Shell~Wave unique is the uncanny ability of its creator to imprint himself in the music, making some of the most machine-like techno around sound uncharacteristically human. This was the genre’s calling card when it was invented, and decades later, it’s still the thing that makes techno interesting and exciting. Surgeon hasn’t forgotten.
