big

Richard Bartz is part of the German techno old guard making their presence felt again. Certainly, the new school can learn a thing or two from his approach. Eschewing a digital set up in favour of analogue – the big in the title refers to one of his synths he reinvents ebm and hip-house and throws down warped interpretations of acid, like the grungy ‘Real People’ and ‘Funky Feet’. However, Bartz isn’t looking backwards for nostalgia’s sake and the ominous, pulsing grooves, tough kicks and dramatic strings of ‘Rave To The Maximum’ and ‘Late Night Acid Final’ reinvent classic dance music but defy categorisation. Listen and learn, minimal chinstrokers.