Published by Davide Pappalardo on March 25, 2019
Jose Ayen is a Spanish techno producer hailing from Murcia, dedicated to deep sounds with minimal structures and stomping old-school rhythmic patterns, enriched by analogic synths and obscure atmospheres. He has published a series of EPs and singles on many labels, even collaborating with artists like Senmove and Christian Haro, building his own sound staying true to his muse and aspirations.
With Fromm, published on the independent Spanish label Mona Records, he presents 2 new tracks and 6 remixes by other producers like Carlos Cmix, Marin Zidak, Oskitronic, David Serrano, Daytona Team. The result is a techno release with hypnotizing movements and some variations on the theme with incursions in electro house and ambient territories.
The name of the EP comes from the German-born American psychoanalyst Erich Seligmann Fromm, one of the founders of The William Alanson White Institute of Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis and Psychology in New York City and an associate of the Frankfurt School of critical theory.
Fromm is the first original track present on the Ep, a pulsating affair with subtle ambiances and firm techno patterns with sparse clap sounds and hypnotizing snare drums. A nocturne atmosphere underlines the development of a charming number with a crawling crescendo made of added elements. Sartre is an even more lysergic affair characterized by mysterious lines and old-school mantras with droning arpeggiators and steady snares. Analogic synth sounds and controlled rhythms are the main stage for throbbing sounds and dark undertones.
Fromm is reworked several times by different artists who give their interpretations of the track. Carlos Cmix works on the rhythmic nature of the song, using the skeleton of it and giving space to the kick drums and the snare sounds. The atmosphere becomes rarer, and a sort of compulsive nature dominates the droning movements during the second half of the remix.
Marin Zidak plays with dark house elements added to the techno structure of the track, conceiving obsessive snare drums and off-beat hi-hats in a repetitive voyage, while Oskitronic uses deep sounds reaching sometime techno dub territories, giving us a liquid atmosphere with eerie passages and subtler snare drums. David Serrano remixes the track employing tech house elements and 4/4 beats. The strong rhythmic session guides us among droning synth-lines and sudden pauses with evocative ambiances, and a sudden crescendo implodes into a mesmerizing old-school ride.
Daytona Team and their collaborator GoTXa give us two different remixes. The first one is a deep techno/house affair with pulsating snare drums and hypnotizing arpeggios, underlined by cosmic elements. During the second half of the track clearer melodies with a diaphanous quality conquer the scene. The second one is a more ambient-oriented affair with sparse sounds and calm synths, a very different rework developing a mantra which collides with retro keys and grandiose atmospheres. Not a dancefloor moment by any means, but probably the most interesting remix out of the ones here presented.
Fromm is a very interesting EP for any lover of techno and old-school house, a celebration of straight beats, well developed synth patterns, steady snare drums and frantic lines. It gives us different perspectives and touches, working as a display for the different producers here involved. This is not a brooding or industrial-tinged affair, but some dark undertones are used in an old-school fashion. Give it a try if you are into this music.
Label: Mona Records
Rating: 7