OUTLANDER Vinyl & CDs

Review: Outlander is a bona-fide techno great no matter what your particular preference so it is great they are back after a rather protracted time away. In the past he has served up over ten EPs for the cult R&S label but now lands on Sonic Groove Records with'a timeless EP of thought-provoking modern techno. The title cut 'I Am I Was' is percussive and stripped back to its bones, 'Where Is The Exit' gets more spaced out and spooky with searching synth lines and 'Isolated' has an elastic bassline that soon locks you in before closer 'Tuesday Vibes' is another eerie and sparse soundscape.

Review: There are plenty of question marks over the man who founded and still runs the R&S label, but the music it releases remains crucial. This time it is a reissue that gets us excited with Belgian artist Marcos Salon aka The Outlander's debut EP from 1991 in the spotlight. The visceral five track offering is all about high impact, floor facing techno with dramatic synth builds and driving drums. Often thought to be one of the most most intelligent rave release's R&S put out during this period, it still fits right in today with artists like Ben UFO never afraid to reach for the classics.