Anis Hachemi & Alex Kaspersky - Baths Of Antoninus (2020)

Anis Hachemi & Alex Kaspersky link up for the epic new album Baths Of Antoninus on Dear Deer. Anis is a label regular, and Alex is the label head honcho, and they both come together here with a big techno sound that comes laced with melody. Future Retro opens up with gritty bass and widescreen synths that wash over the groove and then Africa brings more afro tinged drums, Better Life is dark and edgy with a spraying synth line and Dogon Tribe then gets you in a trance with the lush chords. Rave in Sahara is hard-hitting and moody, with grainy chords and gritty textures, then tracks like African Rage and Future Acid show the range of this pair as they serve up more peak-time cuts with searing acid lines and bouncing drums. After the tense and adventurous Carthage with its gauzy chords, Decadence closes out with hands in the air. This is a coherent and complete album that really takes you on a deep and cosmic techno voyage.