Tripeo Vinyl & CDs

Review: Having found his way into the bags of Ben Sims, Norman Nodge and Rolando among others with his first release, Tripeo returns with a second 12" of heavily textured, hypnotic and puristic techno. An alter ego of Holland-based producer Darko Esser, Tripeo eschews the eclecticism of his other project Onionboy for "niches and purism". This is clearly evident on the A-side, where a functional kick drum combines with diamond-like hi-hats and a lone glassy synth to create a purist techno experience that borders on the psychedelic. The B-side is even more sparing but no less striking, with a broken techno rhythm that is interrupted by a trippy mosaic of morphing synths on a 90s tip.

Review: Darko Esser's endeavours in purist techno under the Tripeo name have resulted in a series of fine 12"s for the label of the same name, along with a drop on Clone Basement Series, and last year's Anipintiros album. The Dutch artist has pulled together a rather enticing array of his contemporaries to remix tracks from the album for two Anipintiros Reworks 12"s that have both been released this week. Any record featuring the collective production contributions of James Ruskin, Exium, and Mike Parker is likely to elicit yelps of excitement amongst techno fans and all three excel here. Ruskin goes broken, Exium tunnels deep, and Parker turns in a truly hypnotic rendition of "Anipintiros 7".

Review: Amsterdam's Darko Esser returns as Tripeo, usually reserved for his explorations in the more hypnotic end of the techno spectrum. On the Seventh Trip he gives us two killer cuts of just that. "Track 1" features rich and immersive pads and an entrancing melody provided by a high pitched perc or woodblock which all works neatly together to lock you into the groove. On the flip "Track 2' is a much darker affair with rising, doom laden Carl Craig strings and furious tom drums providing most of the groove on this stripped and brooding pre peak time killer.

Review: Darko Esser's Tripeo alias is really starting to take off and this will likely be the final 12" before the Dutch producer's debut album as Tripeo, Anipintiros. It's hard not to think Frozen Border, Sandwell District, or even Prologue when listening the A-side on this record, "Untitled #9", while on the flip there's "Untitled #10", a Detroit inspired jumble of strung-out leads, confused computer bleeps and flexed 909 drums.

Review: Since adopting the Tripeo alias back in late 2012, Dutch techno producer Darko Esser has been in inspired form with the project showcasing his more direct approach to the medium across a succession of 12" releases. First announced earlier this year, this debut Tripeo album Anipintiros allows Esser the chance to explore the project in more extensive fashion, and listening to the album demonstrates the Dutchman clearly enjoyed the process. Consisting of eight tracks of purist techno executed with both software and hardware, Anipintiros bristles with dancefloor intent at times sounding alien ("Anipintiros #3" & "Anipintiros #5"), others stripped back and hypnotic ("Anipintiros #4"). It's hard to pick out highlights, but the busted, bleep laden "Anipintiros #6" and the subsequent acid bathtub that is "#7" have been causing the Juno office turntable some damage!