Burn Slow CD

While he forged his reputation on fearlessly mechanical, no-holds-barred techno, Chris Liebing's occasional albums have tended to take a more widescreen approach. For example, his last solo set, 2003's "Evolution", jogged between spoken word, ambient, techno and left-of-centre breakbeat. He's taken a similarly eclectic approach 15 years later with "Slow Burn", a full-length low on rip-snorting club fare but high on atmospheric electronica, hypnotic chuggers, woozy ambient, early '80s cold wave influences, nods to early industrial music and a clutch of impressive collaborations (Gary Numan, who pops up on "Polished Chrome", being the most eye-catching guest). For the most part, this approach pays dividends, with the intoxicating "Trilogy", becalmed "So Then" and John Carpenter influenced "Ghosts of Tomorrow" standing out.