Two things immediately strike me about Rune Reilly Kölsch’s set for Fabric. First, Kölsch’s compositions rest upon thick beds of harmony that take me back to my earliest experiences with electronic music, when I was a high school heavy metal fan trying to understand the sonic landscapes of Tangerine Dream and Jean-Michel Jarre. Second, his rhythms feel boundless, weaving in unexpected directions and layering polyrhythms in ways that make me wonder if “math techno” is a thing.
This is a continuous mix of originals. There is a thematic consistency across all the tracks, so if you like sets that constantly shift, this won’t be your cup of tea. Don’t take that to mean there isn’t a range of emotions, though. Each track possesses its own energy but the shifts are subtle.
The beauty of fabric Presents Kölsch is that the intellect on this record is never overshadowed by the heart and soul. The album feels like a journey. It was inspired by Kölsch’s flights from gig to gig. At times it conjures that oppressive and claustrophobic air of commercial flight, but the excited anticipation of reaching your destination is always present.
Released: May 31, 2019
The things that I normally like in electronic music are all here, especially that sense that the songs have a constant core around which all of the layers revolve. What I think sets this apart from a lot of electronic music is how “natural” it sounds. It feels like a band. That is maybe what sets great electronic music apart from very good electronic music.