by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

This is the first album in seven years from Perc, aka Alistair Wells – recorded at the Perc Trax studios in London. It is his fourth album and is pointed squarely at the dancefloor, a collection of club tracks with an industrial edge.

What’s the music like?

Big and bold. Perc makes his techno big – the riffs, drones and drums all of a size that could easily fill an aircraft hangar. This is dance music going back to first principles, but as he says it is in avoidance of nostalgia and, as far as possible, cliches.

Most of the album is instrumental, which makes Sissel’s appearance on Static all the more striking. Banging industrial drums complement her claustrophobic vocal. The drums are to the fore in the minimal Imperial Leather, a primal high,

Elsewhere there are hints of ambient backdrops amongst the activity. Can You Imagine? works like a set of bells before the cavernous drums kick in, while choral voices alternate on Heartbeat Popper. UK Style dispenses with the drums for some disarming panoramic views, as does Calcify, a closing track of orchestral dimensions.

By contrast, the synths come out in force on the acidic Cold Snap, while Felt 23 goes for white hot percussive action and very little else. Milk Snatchers Return is quick march techno, with an ominous presence of widescreen white noise.

Perc’s versatility is most impressive, cutting through a range of drum tracks and styles, most of them fast and all of them delivering straight-to-dancefloor satisfaction with the minimum of fuss.

Does it all work?

Perc certainly achieves what he set out to do with The Cut Off, and its energy levels are off the scale – meaning it is not for every listening situation! When you need to cut loose, though, it does what it needs to do.

Is it recommended?

A qualified recommendation for The Cut Off – because it certainly won’t be to all tastes! – but if fast and furious minimal techno is what you want, you’ve come to the right place.

Listen & Buy

Published post no.2,180 – Thursday 16 May 2024