Parallel 9 - Index FLAC album

As boisterous as it may sound, and as much as my words might seem exaggerated, this record is a picture perfect cross of Basic Channel and Robert Hood, with some Kenny Larkin / Carl Craig melodic bliss tossed in for grand measure. Although Steve Rachmad often wore his Detroit shirt, with pride too, he frequently garnished it by adding his own decorative touches. His output, as much as a tribute was also a reinterpretation and an upgrade. In no way is the Dutch sound wizard an imitator. He's not ashamed of getting brushed by the influences of the pioneering masters, yet at the same time he is confident enough to propel their sound aesthetic into a musical pantheon of his own.On Index, we are treated to four sides of ultra crisp reduced techno excursions with clinical layering, semi-dubbed out chords and finely crafted, cleverly introduced harmonic passages. All the while, a loopy minimal vibe spearheaded by mr. Hood in the mid nineties keeps it all tight, linear and focused. The exuberance of claps, and hi-hats in general, is simply gorgeous, as it all converges perfectly with the remaining elements, frequently also announcing and/or emphasizing upcoming layers which are to be added to the track.It'll sweep dance floors off their feet as effortlessly as it will captivate your imagination while playing it on a hot sunday afternoon in your bed room. There's a certain timelessness to its moderation. Although it does draw influences from the best of them, it never seems rushed or overzealous, eager to impress. It's patient, elaborate, well tempered, and because all of that, and Steve Rachmad's truly thrilling approach to studio work, it ranks as one of his finest ever works. Furthermore, the decision to create a record that, whilst unquestionably rooted in the techno sphere, does more than provoke physical movement or ignite introspective contemplation, has rewarded him ten fold, in the long run. While it was never, perhaps, the hottest potato around, it has a longevity factor that won't wane. The record has maintained a steady relevance, proving itself as deadly and effective now as it did over fifteen years ago. It's one of those rare things that don't pop up in your head immediately when you reminisce of that era, yet it's something you'll be able to play regardless of the occasion, be it yesterday, today or a distant tomorrow. It boasts a musical finesse which enables it to "click" with almost anything while comfortably imbricating the boundaries of genre. Through a devoted absorption of ideas and manifests of creativity, Parallel 9's master stroke is literary saturated with quality, regardless of what it is that you are looking for in techno. As such, I cannot recommend it enough. As stated before, it's seldom on the tip of anyone's tongue, but then again its classic status has not been contested by anyone either. Works wonders on multiple levels.

Beautifull and insightful article.. Makes me wana grab this album even more.

Music Man brings us again a wonderful, well skilled Rachmad pearl. This imho one of the best Steve Rachmad EP's I've ever heard. It sounds simple, but the grooves are just right! Raw edgy claps, hi-hats and amazing swooshy synth sounds. This EP is made for techno heaven. Simply amazing! This is the sound from Steve Rachmad that I really really like. The music Steve Rachmad makes under his pseudonymes are always a bit deeper than the stuff he releases under his own name. My favourites are: Codex and Index Please Steve bring us more from this!