R&S' tech-step wizard boldly goes beyond the confines of techno with engaging space-funk collection
7/10
This is techno-funkateer Jack Hammill's debut full-length album and it's a successful launch-pad for his atmospheric take on the Parliament/Azymuth/Space/Dexter Wansel sound so prevalent in the '70s.
Of course, there's nothing especially new or ground-breaking about fusing crunky-funk with astronautical themes - Ken Ishii, Model 500 and Kenny Larkin have issued similar works via the R&S stable before. But Hammill's subtle and dexterous handling of his machines keeps him apart from the more brutal end of techno, ending up as an ally of the likes of Lone, Ultramarine, Mantronix, Dam-Funk and Daft Punk.
There's a running dialogue throughout the album that more than makes up for a lack of 'banging' anthems, if only for being a parody of sci-fi b-movies. You Can't Have My Love, The Love Quadrant and A Lonely Flight To EroDru-10 help detach this from being just another homage to Bladerunner and the like, while the title-track is as near to typical old-school R&S techno as you'll get here.
A melodic galactic white-knuckle ride to be listened to in one hit, rather than in pieces.