Chronika Chapter Two

Chronika Chapter Two is one of the boldest releases of the year 2005. Boshke Beats are known for mechanist exploits and risk-taking experimentations on the farflung fringe of psychedelic techno. Drawing upon influences from techno, electro, industrial, and psychedelic trance, Alex Tolstey has compiled intriguing tracks in a variety of styles, crafting a gem of electronic music that should appeal to anyone with a love for the soul in the machine. Inga Bourin’s artwork is top-notch, as usual! Let’s dig into the music…

Tony Rohr opens the album with My Mind is Going Dub, previously released on vinyl in 2003. Loaded with a menacing bass line, dirty percussive contortions, and a killer sample from HAL-9000, this tune explores the murky territory somewhere between techno, electro, and the psychedelic – a style that has been described as “voodoo techno” in the press. There is a filthy quality to the production, and the sounds which serve as leads possess an unmistakable dissociative quality, making for one hell of an opener. Tension builds and dissipates with considerable power, conjuring the maximum effect from this grim warehouse sound. Wicked!

Midi Miliz provide one of their more straight-forward tracks next: One Point One. This is sourced from the No Alibi vinyl, released back in 2004. As with all releases from this artist, the production value raises the bar for other artists, with some of the sickest drums on record. The journey is mainly percussive up until the halfway point, after which a stunning atmospheric sound rises majestically from the dark depths. I heard this one live at the Eclipse Festival in 2005 and the power of this arrangement is indisputable, despite the inherent simplicity of construction. Techno fans are going to love it, and it may have some effect on the psytrance fans out there as well.

The Rockitmen reconstruct The Delta’s Hero FX, previously released on a Boshke vinyl, for the third offering. It isn’t exactly a remix however; the entire song has been built almost from scratch. This is a more direct strain of techno, geared towards smashing dancefloor moments, although the heavy emphasis on atmosphere remains. I wasn’t too fond of the original, and while this isn’t bad, it does not capture my imagination the way some of the rest of the material here does.

Midi Miliz is back with one of the greatest tracks on the album. This time it’s a live mix of No Alibi recorded at the Transit festival. The original is a sick piece of work to begin with, and this version is a testament to the excellent show Midi Miliz put on in a live setting. The beat is hard and nasty, with brilliant percussion providing an irresistable appeal. The twin hooks of grinding industrial mid-range stab and spectacular high-end atmosphere conjure a cybernetic mood I refer to as tech noir. It’s an uncommon sound to hear, even within the domain of techtrance, and certainly a special interest of mine. With the excellent production value and storytelling. there is no question: this is a killer!

Fuzzion’s City Limit is a more open-ended electro-trance crossover piece, driving along with wobbling synthetic flourishes and a disinterested swagger. It sounds fresh and appealing, with the steady shuffle of hi-hats and handclaps maintaining an effortless groove. The simple-minded melodic touch is an unexpected and delightful respite from the gritty techno theme of the compilation.

X-Dream’s classic Intercorporal Stimulator has seen a lot of play since it was released on the Microchip EP in 1999. Back in the day this was referred to as “the earthquake track” thanks to a distinguishing break in which the mettle of a subwoofer is truly tested, and the ground begins to shake. After being re-released on X-Dream’s album Irritant and, more recently, receiving a facelift from The Delta, it’s time for the complete Midi Miliz overhaul. What can be said? This is a masterpiece. The hard shuffling percussion is positively schizophonic, adorned with ornamental synth-work tortured to the breaking point. The distorted biomechanical rhythms will indiscriminatly eviscerate any stereo setup. The final minutes give rise to an awe-inspiring atmosphere sacramental in its graceful intensity. Absolutely brilliant!

Metalogic’s Irrational Impulse formulates a cinematic break-tech fusion that celebrates the beauty of the loop. It maintains the blackened atmosphere of the Chronika theme, stumbling heavily between broken beats. As a primarily percussive creation, one can appreciate the drum work, but there is little else aside from a vocoded electro line to shake it up. Solid production, but I need a bit more than beats to maintain an interest.

Fuzzion’s remix to Holeg & Spies feat. BAKXII – Lost in Darkness is one of the great surprises of the compilation. Fusing elements of electro, techtrance, and industrial, the result is an entrancing gothic anthem that is bound to become an enduring classic of modern electronic music. As if the massive grinding bass line were not enough to carry the track, swirling synthetic atmospheres thoroughly glaze the chunky rhythms with acidic overtones. The mournful vocals are going to dissuade some listeners, but as an ex-industrial fan, I find the self-assured lyrics suit the track perfectly. It is ideal for dark dancefloors and underground clubs, and one of my personal favourites from the release.

It’s back to voodoo techno with Taksi, a collaboration between German techno pioneers Paul Brtschitsch and André Galluzzi. Previously released on the eponymous label in 2003, Mal Was Anderes is a timeless techno epic, laced in scattered voices and haunting atmospheric work. Furtive hooks settle into the psyche like determined Von Neumann devices, cyclically deconstructing and re-assembling sound particles into a vibrating melange of robotic rhythms and eerie prominences. It could have been produced and released any time in the last decade, but this is where you will find it. This is great music.

Label boss Alex Tolstey teams up with the Kozlovs for the final exposition as Triple Distilled vs Fuzzion. Midnight Circulator is a moody synthetic cruise through tempermental audioscapes. The sound design is the right mix of crisp and dirty; lush with thick sweeping sounds and heavy downtempo rhythms. I am used to considering the chilled finale of most releases to be throw-aways, but this is actually very good.

The widespread consensus is that Chronika Chapter Two is the best Boshke release yet, and I fully concur. Not only are the original tunes outstanding, but Alex T has smartly chosen a pair of proper techno tunes to re-release to fresh audiences. As a listening experience, this is top-notch, provoking a fresh response with each new song. Few compilations seem to push the boundary as far as this one does’ few manage to play host to such a variety of approaches and techniques while expressing a single cohesive vision. I really couldn’t think of a better compilation in the techtrance realm. Trance fans might fail to be persuaded by the fundamental allure of this slick package, but anyone who has ever liked techno is bound to be caught up in the magic. Chronika Chapter Two is a landmark in modern electronic dance music. Don’t miss it!