Gunnar Haslam Ataxia No Logos

In a little over a year Gunnar Haslam has established himself amongst the new school house and techno greats thanks to his inventive releases on L.I.E.S., Argot and Mister Saturday Night. Now he steps up with a new four track EP on Delsin that showcases his wide-ranging style. The EP opens with 'Corridor Metaphysics', a high-pressure bit of deep techno with urgent drums and eerie, haunting glass tinkling sounds. It's a warm and humid track that places you right at the heart of it and everything that happens does so subtly and suggestively rather than with brute force. 'Ataxia No Logos' is then a spangled and disorientating track with panning and ever more manic synths encircling the listener. Incessant ticking highs and distant drones add to the sense of oppression and on a dancefloor this will do some serious damage. Flipside 'Dunsinane Hill' is more tender and sensitive, with deep house chords and drums peppered with loose tin pot percussion. It's moody but purposeful, sad but cerebral and eventually makes way for 'Discrete Markov Dub', a rippling bit of techno with crisp hits, a fat bassline that pulls you right in and oversized hi hats leaving long trails. Overall this is deep, heady music that manages to be shadowy, emotive and physical all at the same time.