OCH – Hate Internet review

It was inevitable that someone was going to release a techno record that pours scorn on the internet – indeed the fact that it took so long is a greater revelation. Seen on a superficial level, both the art and its means appear to have been inextricably linked since the very start. But the reality is that, despite Juan Atkins truncating technology to coin techno music, the relationship has never been that straightforward.

House and techno were first created on outdated, seemingly  obsolete equipment and their appearance also bolstered the health of the vinyl format, which during the late 80s was suffering due to the introduction of CDs. While it appears that much has changed in the intervening two decades, OCH’s latest release demonstrates that there is sizable cohort within the techno community that wants to shun digital downloads, laptop DJing and web forum snarkiness. OCH is more than a likely candidate to favour the offline experience.

His identity is unknown, he has released on Baby Ford’s label and his music is supported by vinyl supporters like Zip from Perlon. As one final two fingers towards the digital world, Hate Internet is released on that most awkward of formats, the 10″. Of course none of this should be relevant to the music itself, but in this instance the message carries through to the art; wired electronic blips and bleeps and a vocal declaring “fixation… I need a fix”.

It seems like OCH is telling listeners to get away from their computers and experience the panning riffs, pumping rhythm and bubbling chords of Internet. The choice of remix is also apposite. Mark ‘Claro Intelecto’ Stewart has also said in the past that people spend too much time online, and certainly his gritty warehouse rhythm and warbling acid lines coupled with airy, spacey chords should persuade his fans to log off and crank up this record to full volume. If Hate Internet can’t convince them, nothing will.

Richard Brophy