Objekt – ‘Flatland’ LP

Following on from recent releases from his home base in Berlin – including his recent split 12” with Dopplereffekt on Leisure System, the ‘Cactus / Porcupine’ EP on Hessle Audio, and three 12” singles on his eponymous white label series – Objekt comes forward with his debut album ‘Flatland’.

Having previously toyed with the traditional conventions of techno and electronica in his productions, Objekt has created a name for himself as an original thinker: turning a fair number of classic dance floor tropes on their head through his recorded work. Challenging conventional notions of what constitutes an effective club record, he always keeps things fresh and interesting.

Set for release this November through Bill Kouligas’ PAN imprint, the finished result is the dark sounding spectacle. It’s an impressive piece of work that has been put together over the past 2-3 years; no small feat considering the man hasn’t really stopped touring all over the world, from New York to Tokyo!

It’s kind of hard to put Objekt’s sound into a box and genre, but why should you? Music is there to be pushed to its furthest corners and back again, so why people get in an uproar about labelling so and so, such and such is beyond me. Good music is good music. The quick to label might put this under ambient, IDM or techno, even drawing comparisons to the likes of Amon Tobin and Aphex Twin. However, when you actually listen to this album, there are so many intricate layers to it.

Objekt deserves to be credited for his labours. These layers are sounds that can only be made with time and effort and also have an overall storyline or base to them. Tracks such as ‘Second Witness’ contain a multiplicity of detail, which pave the way for ominous dark adventures, whilst the thumping beginnings of ‘Ratchet’ continue to race through, sounding like a war between robotic creatures from a different planet.

Interpret ‘Flatland’ how you want, but I reckon openness was in Objekt’s game-plan here. There is so much in the album: a coherent record in it’s own right, it could also be a soundtrack to many different sci-fi’s and thrillers. There are of course some great highlights: dance floor belters like ‘Strays’, ‘One Stitch Follows Another’ and ‘Interlude (Whodunnit?)’ are great achievements in their own right and are probably likely to cause a few trips here and there!

Released through PAN on November 20th, ‘Flatland’ will be available in multiple formats including a double 140g vinyl and CD; accompanied by photography from Joe Dilworth and artwork by label owner Bill Kouligas as well as Kathryn Politis. Check the preview for ‘Second Witness’ below and pick up your copy here.

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