Exp

Tatsuya Kanamori's debut full-length on Tresor as DJ Shufflemaster instantly solidifies his position as one of Japan's leading techno producers, alongside, most notably, fellow Japanese-born producers Fumiya Tanaka and Ken Ishii. The fact that this LP appears on Tresor of all labels says a lot about Kanamori's reputation -- the Berlin-based label proved itself to be one of the genre's most fostering institutions in the 1990s, elevating countless techno producers to global prominence, and this album should no doubt do the same for Kanamori's DJ Shufflemaster moniker. Though the 13-track CD version does get a bit repetitious near the middle of the album, there are a few standout tracks that deserve recognition: the album-opening "EXP," with its dizzying onslaught of jackhammer percussion; the equally hammering "Slip Inside You," a forever-looping track that proves increasingly disorientating with every successive 909 pound; the two-track suite "Fourthinter" and "Imageforum," characterized largely by its ominous synth; and, finally, the album-closing "Flowers of Cantarella," one of the few other tracks with an ambient synth melody, an anthemic track that also deserves notice for its suspenseful, percussion-free buildup. Without any downtempo or ambient moments, and its wholehearted focus on the dancefloor, EXP can get a bit tiresome and headache-inspiring for those interested more in listening than dancing or DJing; however, in small doses, or in the abbreviated double-vinyl version (which trims away the fat), EXP features a truly stunning array of straight-up hard techno. Most impressive, though, is Kanamori's ability to create these numerous tracks from a variety of sound sources, proving just how resourceful and creative his production skills are, particularly for a debut LP. ~ Jason Birchmeier