Excerpts

Album Review

Anyone familiar with Derrick May's Transmat record label will instantly recognize the connection between Neil Ollivierra's recordings as the Detroit Escalator Company and the musical and visual aesthetics of the legendary techno company. That is not to say Ollivierra's work is derivative. If anyone has the right to make this sort of music (ambient techno with classic Detroit synths), it is Ollivierra, who has spent extensive time working for Transmat. The CD is actually four tracks taken from 1996's acclaimed Soundtrack (313) EP, as well as another four taken off of the lesser-known Braille EP, which was cryptically recorded "before." Ironically, it is the four Braille cuts that stand out as having more of their own personalities. Propelled by skittish drum tracks, they are not so heavily weighed down by the keyboards. There is also one unreleased track, "Orange." A highly legitimate, although occasionally predictable, look at Detroit techno.