EP Review: “Post-Traumatic Son (Ben Klock Remixes)” by O/V/R

Following on from a few quality techno singles in 2010, UK veteran James Ruskin’s Blueprint label has kick-started this year’s release schedule with a remix EP from Berghain resident Ben Klock, who supplies 3 solid updates to Post Traumatic Son, the lead track of Blueprint 30 by Sandwell District artist Regis and the label boss himself from last year.

Indeed, those who’ve followed the productions of Ruskin over the past year should know about his penchant for the sound of Berghain and its affiliated imprint Ostgut Ton; and now with its mainstay responsible for the first release of Blueprint in 2011, it seems likely that the London label will continue its exploration in that dark and organic territory. What we’re interested in, of course, is whether it can keep delivering fresh-sounding releases this year.

In comparison to the original mix of Post Traumatic Son, this EP here does manage to diverge in an engaging fashion whilst sustaining some of the distinct qualities of the former. Amongst the three remixes, the Techno Mix is the one that captures its heads-down industrial progression to the fullest, with the heart-throbbing bass, incessant metallic percussions and thunderous stabs rendering a pounding and relentless vibe for the peak-time.

Whereas this rework should satisfy many techno fiends’ need for sonic vibration and energy, it’s really the Vibe Mix and Wave Mix that bring the EP to another level. Toning down the mechanical and banging progression of the Techno Mix, these two melodic affairs see the shimmering tones beneath the driving percussive components couple with the lush, immersive synth lines that fluidly glide atop, and thus subtly expand the industrial soundscape of the original mix and Techno Mix. The Vibe Mix possesses a strong dark and hypnotic flavour, whilst the Wave Mix is marked by a mixture of trippiness and grandeur.

A well designed and executed remix EP here, it has deftly opened up the possibilities of the original; yet it’s by no means the end of the remix treatment, as on part two of this remix series, Robert Hood and DVS1 from the US push the project even further, transforming the original to a greater extent with their own creative visions on another three interpretations. All this is a great start to 2011 indeed, and if the label continues to evolve in this direction, it’s going to have a promising year ahead for sure.

Read the review at Data Transmission here

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