- It seemed like only a matter of time before Boris Werner got tapped by Rush Hour or, in this case, Voyage Direct, a subsidiary label run by Tom Trago. The Amsterdam scene is small and vibrant, it's bevy of house and techno producers always collaborating and rolling between imprints. It's a productive environment, and Werner's brand of spaced-out techno arguably slots in more neatly here than with previous homes like Get Physical and Remote Area.
On paper, "Acid Casino" sounds derivative—snares rattle, 303s squelch, elements disappear only to burst back in after spoken word breakdowns. But Werner's touch is delicate. The subs caress more than roar, and the drums give the beats that slight swing so endemic in modern Dutch house. It's all a little out-of-focus, a little woozy, like stepping from the cold street into club smoke, five beers down. Things get even thicker on "Upstairs Or Downstairs," the low-end rippling like a muscle, but slightly overpowering the textures above it. The synths soar and dive, wobble then collapse, but the bass feels dull. When it slams back in after an indulgent but goosebump-inducing breakdown, all the tension evaporates. It's a shame, because otherwise Werner shows he can hold his own among his city's dance luminaries.
TracklistA1 Acid Casino
B1 Upstairs Or Downstairs