My ear isn’t what it used to be, but I think the first downbeat on Now Here No Where is a bowed contrabass over a drum hit. If an entire album can be summarized by a single moment, that is the moment.
This record balances things we perceive to be binary: organic and electronic, warm and cool, soundscapes and bangers. Kölsch partners with arranger Gregor Schwellenbach to create symphonic grandeur that abruptly shifts into giant, festival-ready techno.
Now Here No Where sits midway between fabric Presents Kölsch and 1977. I don’t love this record but it has something for every techno fan. For me, the magic lives in the slow build of the title track, the early aughts drama of “Remind You” and “Time,” and the two songs that open the record.
Which brings me back to that first moment of sound on the opener, “Great Escape.” It captures everything about this album: Kölsch’s electronic compositions, Schwellenbach’s string arrangements, the festival beats, the headphone soundscapes, the brain, the soul, and the heart. Listen closely to that beat. If it resonates with you, then there is something on this record for you.
Released: September 25, 2020