[Tectonic]

Just a year after releasing his debut album, Aerial, Dave Huismans is back for more with his sophomore long-player under the 2562 moniker, Unbalance. So far the the critical consensus has been that Aerial was overcast and perhaps a bit brooding while Unbalance is chipper and full of color, but those looking for a smile should head elsewhere. Indeed, Unbalance does find Huismans allowing the most color yet into his steely palate, but more than any other dubstep album this year it demands you sit down and listen; there will be time for dancing later. An appropriate title as any, Huismans’ beats are rough and shattered, tipping every which way while defeated synths descend in their own time.

Opener “Flashback” combines perky rotating bloops with tightly shuffling percussion and down-trodden keys. Since synesthesia seems to be the name of the game with this album, there’s a distinct navy blue in “Flashback” while the leaner “Like a Dream” gives off an orange-ish glow, but like Aerial the whole album is shrouded in a thick, pervasive haze that leaves any visuals murky. Every sound is smeared, every beat tumbling over itself and the background is full of noises vying for your attention. Often this works, especially on personal favorite “Lost,” whose smudged vocal loops and delayed keys recall Martyn’s classic “Broken Heart” remix, and on “Who Are You Fooling?” whose drill and bass-like beats temper the detuned, sluggish pads and almost rave-like lead synth.

In fact, it’s tough to single out one track that isn’t enjoyable, a fact that could surprisingly double as the album’s only true fault. Although its mood and overall quality are extremely consistent, by album’s end (particularly on CD, which adds another four tracks to its girth) listeners are likely to feel fatigued with its ceaseless movements and half-tone color palette. Ingested in small bits the tracks carry much more weight, letting you focus on the many elements inserted into each cut. The album centerpiece and title track “Unbalance” recedes into the rest of the album when heard straight through, but its tight syncopations and painstaking attention to detail really jump out at you when heard in isolation.

Those eagerly awaiting further transmissions from 2562 will find much to love in Unbalance, as Huismans updates his previous palates while keeping true to his signature sound, offering much to the techno and dubstep communities in equal measures. Bu should Unbalance have been released as a series of EPs rather than an album? Not necessarily, but don’t be surprised if vinyl copies get more spins than the CD. Given room to breath each tune can be captivating, whereas taken as a whole it can be hard to pick out those great moments without some consideration. The dance music community still seems to cling to the album format and often gives them more weight than the average 12″, so perhaps in this format the tunes are getting the recognition they deserve. It’s just a shame that they have to crowd together to be heard.