Recondite - Dwell (2020) [Hi-Res]

By his own admission, Recondite hasn't reinvented his sound on his second full-length for Ghostly International. The Bavarian producer continues to refine the brand of pared-down but suspenseful techno he's been releasing since the early 2010s, with dark, ominous melodies softly swirling around icy kick drums. Not quite as dramatic as 2018's brooding, soundtrack-like Daemmerlicht, Dwell also isn't as energetic as earlier club hits such as "Levo" or "Cleric" -- tracks that are still more downtrodden than most peak-time techno. As ever, though, he's excellent at what he does, and the album is a cohesive collection of beat-driven mood pieces crafted with precision and attention to detail. The opening title track might not seem to have too many elements, but he arranges them in a crafty manner -- the digital snares and soft, bell-like melodies subtly rotate throughout the speakers, to mesmerizing effect. "Black Letter" is another prime example of the sort of chilling, wintry techno Recondite makes. More chilling or haunting than scary, it weaves foreboding melodies around a softly insistent beat, one that seems to sharply walk forward rather than run for its life. The album contains a few downtempo cuts which point to trap as an influence, but they don't particularly divert from the same mood as the rest of the tracks. "Mirror Games" seems a bit more club-tooled, particularly due to its deep-down bass line and EQ'd beats, and "Cure" is similar but airier and more cloudlike. Overall, Dwell is a stirring album best enjoyed at home during the middle of winter, when the weather renders venturing outdoors a fool's task. [Curiously, the album's most upbeat (and possibly best) selection, "Equal," is relegated to digital bonus-track status.] ~ Paul Simpson