Review: 15 Years of Drumcode
Artist: Various
Title: 15 Years of Drumcode
Label: Drumcode
Release Date: November 28, 2011
Genre: Techno/Tech-house
Medium: CD
Adam Beyer’s iconic Drumcode imprint has turned fifteen. An impressive feat that will be marked by and celebrated with a special “15 Years of Drumcode” compilation, set for a late November release. Originally started one and a half decade ago as a means to put out his own records, Adam Beyer has turned Drumcode into one of techno’s few multifaceted heavyweights. A clearly distinguishable sound, extensive artist roster, solid release schedule, weekly radioshow, current series of celebratory showcases and Beyer’s upcoming “Maze” DJ Tour featuring specially made, immersive visuals find Drumcode unlikely to slow down any time soon.
The compilation comes in three seperate discs and contains a total of 28 tracks from a wide variety of artists, stretching across the spectrum from funky techhouse to straight-up techno, covering most bases in between. Material from veterans such as Cari Lekebusch, Joel Mull, Slam, Ben Sims and Jesper Dahlback, recent Drumcode artists Kaiserdisco, Gary Beck and Alan Fitzpatrick and even a few fresh and unknown names like Roberto Capuano and Patrick Siech make this compilation into one that leaves little of Drumcode’s rich history of contributing artists untouched. I will not digress into a discussion of each of the separate tracks, suffice to say most easily pass the respected Drumcode quality standards, with no obvious let-downs to be spotted and a handful of interesting surprises hidden throughout all three discs.
When presenting a compilation entitled “15 Years of Drumcode” one expects perhaps to find a collection of music representing that particular span of time. Comprised of only recently released or previously unreleased material however, it’s obvious Drumcode and labelhead Beyer are not engaging in any kind of reflection or rememberance. The only solid link with the past to be found is a brand new Joseph Capriati remix of Adam Beyer’s own modern classic “A Walking Contradiction” from 2005. Other than that the present takes all the spotlight, providing an unmistakeable insight into the future of Drumcode and perhaps even that of techno itself. While in this case it’s nothing truly unforseeable (Beyer has stated on a number of occassions that he doesn’t see himself playing classics-sets any time soon), I cannot help but feel a slight sense of unease when considering the compilation’s naming. At least musically “The last 4,5 years of Drumcode” would have been more appropriate.
Do not mistake that sentiment for critique however. I understand well Beyer’s decision to focus on the here and now and hint towards the future. Drumcode’s development has always run somewhat parallel with that of techno in general. Established in 1996, growing rapidly during techno’s late 90′s and early 00’s prime, taking a deliberate step back around 2004 in the face of minimal’s advent and emerging out of a slumber-like state in 2007, Drumcode has taken techno by storm once more. The logic is simple: if Drumcode is doing well, techno is doing well and vice versa. With good reason, I might add.
In that world of contemporary techno however, as in all of electronic music’s fast-paced and ever-moving landscape, standing out from the rest is no easy task. Luckily Drumcode has had plenty of time to create, build and finetune its own unique sound. One that has evolved over time by retaining its musical essence while morphing adaptively to its changing surroundings. This is also the reason I would have thoroughly enjoyed the addition of one more CD to this compilation, one with some tracks of days gone by. Not to place watery-eyed emphasis on how much better everything was ten to fifteen years ago, but to provide some historical perspective and shed some light on Drumcode’s roots, on what it is that makes this label one of the most frighteningly relevant ones around.
Tracklist:
CD 1
1. Kaiserdisco – Drum Suspension
2. Alan Fitzpatrick – Running Backwards
3. Paul Ritch – Adrenaline
4. Mauro Picotto and Riccardo Ferri – Asteroids
5. Patrick Siech – Structure
6. Jesper Dahlback- No Control
7. Joel Mull – Shake Trip
8. Cari Lekebusch and Joseph Capriati – Napoli 4pm
9. Gregor Tresher – At The Fall Of Night
10. Adam Beyer – A Walking Contradiction (Joseph Capriati Remix)
CD 2
1. Grindvik & Billie – Hold, Doubt, Back
2. Slam – Temperance
3. Nagano Kitchen – Black Panther
4. Gary Beck – Round Your Place
5. Chris Liebing and Brian Sanhaji – The Undertaking
6. Ben Sims – Make That Shit Funk
7. Nicole Moudaber – Contents Of My Head
8. Slam – Sonic Scuffle
9. Roberto Capuano – Oblique
10. Rocco Caine – Orphan
CD 3
1. Harvey McKay – Supercell
2. Dustin Zahn – Break The Cycle
3. Nihad Tule – Collider
4. Gary Beck – Distant
5. Tony Rohr – Work
6. Pascal Mollin vs. Egbert – Several Voices
7. The Advent & Jason Fernandes – Rocket Science
8. Nima Khak – Red One
Words by Harrison van der Vliet
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