Published by Davide Pappalardo on December 6, 2017
Blush Response (Joey Gonzalez) is a name our readers should know very well. We have been following his rapid rising in techno industrial world since his digital only album Desire Machines, analyzing his experiments in drone and dark ambient with Rebirthed In The Sprawl, his ventures in danceable rhythms with Future Tyrants and Body Architect, his vision of rhythmic noise with Reshaper and finally his take on cybernetic and futuristic techno with Human Augmentation.
Now he returns with a new proper album called Infinite Density and published by Adam X‘s label Sonic Groove, a household name in the field of industrial tinged techno. In this work he encompasses all his recent efforts in a pounding and cybernetic sound full of EBM inspired fat basslines, strings and obsessive drum machines. A modular sound full of heavy synths and arpeggios, recalling the past in a modern and updated setting.
The title track is a stomping opener characterized by epic distortions and rigid rhythms submerged in a cold, sci-fi atmosphere empathized by modular synth sounds. No solace is a techno number where evocative and ghostly lines cooperate with a steel like percussion. It gives us a train-like movement, guiding us through a cyberpunk scenario. Survivor guilt uses ambiance and spiraling effects until its crescendo reach a climax made of deep space distortions.
Painkiller sees the contribution of Rhys Fulber of FLA fame on strings, a strong track completed by thundering beats and malevolent loops of sound. An almost tribal atmosphere is infected by creepy female vocal samples. Serpentine is maybe the most EBM influenced moment on the album recalling some elements of his side-project with Sarin called Konkurs. A steady rhythm is enriched by repetitive basslines and factory-like drums. Dead still air ends the work with dread, encapsulating his cyber-techno sound infused by EBM and electro-industrial influences and updating the lesson of the aforementioned FLA.
Infinite Density is another chapter in a successful career. Maybe here we should talk about industrial-techno instead of techno industrial, but definitions are really not that important when the quality of music is so high. Once again Blush Response shows a unique vision made of different eras of electronic music with industrial leanings without ever sounding outdated. Fans of his work already know they have to listen to it, newcomers will be not disappointed too.
Label: Sonic Groove
Rating: 8,5