Fluxion
started releasing music on
Chain Reaction
in the late '90s, so he's always been associated with the dub techno scene, but his music has moved far beyond the boundaries of that particular style, incorporating unique rhythms and textures.
Haze
continues his run of albums on his own
Vibrant Music
, and it's another high-quality set of tracks that explore different sounds and moods. The mellow, forlorn "Touch" has softly clicking beats and delicate, ringing guitars, while haunting organs glow beneath the dubby vibes of "Magenta." A rework of "Footsteps" by
Arovane
and
Mike Lazarev
adds crackling beats and, appropriately enough, creeping footsteps to the original piece's porcelain-like piano melody. "Berlin," the album's most club-friendly track, is filled with warm, bobbing echoes that soothe like a bubble bath. "Nexus" is unexpectedly slow, sad, and cinematic. "What Tomorrow Brings" is more beat-forward, but feels like music for focused contemplation rather than dancing. ~ Paul Simpson