As anyone who’s followed house for the past few years knows, retro sounds have never been more accepted. When it comes to techno, however, producers seem keener on looking forward, at least for the time being. Enter Emmanuel Top. Throughout the 90s the Frenchman was a giant of the scene, but citing excessive commercial pressure, abruptly ceased releasing in 2003. When he returned last year, it was as if he’d never left. The tracks were new, but they didn’t sound it. This trend continues on Le Sous-Sol, a single-sided 12″ for Planete Rouge and Top’s sixth EP since his return.
Already, “Le Sous-Sol” has garnered comparisons to “Spastik.” It’s easy to understand why; the track is built around a similar skeleton, with brusque, rolling rimshots filling up most of the available space and thundering kicks frequently re-entering at plumb moments. Unlike Richie Hawtin’s classic, however, there’s a searing high-end, guaranteed to fry every last synapse with its alarm clock-like keening. There’s nothing wrong with a little revivalism, though in this case, it’s just a bit too familiar to be truly exciting. It’s ironic, because to my ears, Top’s work was always more than a match for Plastikman material, even though it came second and borrowed heavily. This idea doesn’t hold true for “Le Sous-Sol.” It’s decent enough, but lacks the patience-rewarding progression and hypnotic quality that made Top’s pre- and post-hiatus epics such winners.
