SKOOZBOT THE RISING SAP PLUS8103 Transmitting from the heart of the American Midwest, Skoozbot has rapidly gained a reputation for insightful techno futurism. His main preoccupation focuses on the interaction between humans and technology, especially the ability to capture split second emotions, recreate them using electronic sounds and then play them out over a six minute track, letting them evolve naturally albeit in sometimes unexpected directions. The Rising Sap contains a selection of tracks written during the transition from winter to spring as life returns to the surface of the planet bringing with it the most vibrant sensory experiences. In a sense these colours, fragrances and forms allow us to transcend time through memories and association and Skoozbot is driven to capture these precious fragments and examine them from all angles in the suspended animation that the minimal techno environment so perfectly creates. In Vacuo possesses a deep, rumbling bassline that stays grounded throughout, working in tandem with a monotone bleep to create a strangely soothing entry into the void. As time gradually becomes a loop, the single note synthetic scream motif rises from the depths to dominate the rest of the track with its imposing presence. Tripped out, barely audible voices and tribal percussion sequences add further textured layers to the mix and suddenly all forward motion is gone and the room starts to spin out sideways. Like Stigmergy is lighter in feel with a definite skip in its step, although the fusion of kick and bass still leaves some seriously deep footprints. The jangling delays on the electric keys suffer repeated assaults from a division of squelchy effects but all this works as a prelude to the main two note riff that blows in like a north wind crystallizing the hi-hats and freezing time once again before the original riff reappears to thaw things out. As you would expect, a track called Lost Wages is never going to be a relaxing ride. Returning to more familiar territory, Skoozbot embellishes the urgent groove with a jacking bassline and twitching, pitching percussive melodies that skid and stutter across the mechanical beats before disappearing into a vortex. He then applies a healthy dose of reverb as the track reaches crescendo, opening up new dimensions as the wooden percussion riff grows ever more intense and frenetic. Monster bass FX abound as Raw Garmonbozia takes to the floor. It?s a tough uncompromising ride with extended rhythm sections that motor towards sudden bass drops only to return with tricky little percussion elements in tow that occupy the mind with the same intensity as the beats engage the feet. What?s more, the cascading effects that dominate the stereo field manage to disorient and delight in equal measures like some gravity defying fairground attraction that keeps your heart in your mouth from start to finish. The digital only tracks Rued Reckoning and Subtension are two more prime examples of clean cut, expertly looped techno with constantly shifting horizons that expand and shrink the room to order. If anything they?re more linear and relentless than their vinyl counterparts with Rued Reckoning grabbing the dancefloor by the scruff of the neck to hammer its point home while Subtension settles into a smooth tribal groove after an equally hi-octane beginning, rounding off this quality collection of tunes in rousing fashion.