Christopher Kah - Second Nature (2018)

Composed over the course of a long, hot summer month, Christopher Kah's latest long player serves up a firm reminder of the endless possibilities involved in creating electronic music. An 9-track affair that sees the producer call on his trademark brooding techno sound, it nonetheless serves up a fascinating alternative to his last album, the brilliantly received Limited Resource. With that one picking up heavy support from the likes of Laurent Garnier, this is another that's sure to appeal to those interested in dancefloor-driven electronica. From wild electro sounds to Detroit-inspired techno, it serves up a energy-filled workout that barely if ever pauses for breath. Getting us going is the sounds of 'Second Nature', a full-on sound assault that immediately lets the listener know that they're in for a white-knuckle ride. The infectiously catchy 'CKosmos' expands on the electro vibe, with its muffled vocoder vocals and heart-racing baseline particularly worthy of note. Barely two tracks in, and we've already encountered an album that's not for the faint of heart. The aptly-titled 'Stamina' is another cut that's positively teaming with energy, while 'Wavering' takes matters down a notch courtesy of a more trance-tinged, restrained approach that forces parallels with Age of Love's self-titled classic anthem. The captivating, otherworldly sounds of '4:1' remind us that this is no ordinary LP, before 'Phantom' goes deeper than ever before in search of its kicks. Kah reminds us once more of his love for atmospheric vibes on 'Faces', another cut that's never lacking in momentous overtones. The final quarter of the release gets underway thanks to 'Fallout & Ashes', a twinkling, hard-edged track that neatly leads into the album's closing salvo, the quite emphatic 'Whirlwind'. A fitting track with which to close out on, its melancholy heavy aesthetic means it's sure to appeal to DJs from both the house and techno divide. An endlessly intriguing release with no shortage of big moments, Christopher Kah's latest is sure to be treated with wide acclaim by those in the techno community.