- As dirty and dusty as his records can be, Stefan Laubner's take on dance music is also patient. Sometimes it takes him ten minutes—or even 17—to get where he needs to go, and it's usually worth staying with him. His zen-like style means he's just as good at drifting ambient as he is placid techno. With that in mind—and especially coming after an album on Smallville—the German producer's first 12-inch for Lick My Deck is like getting a slap when you were expecting hug.
The two cuts on On Another Frequency are among Laubner's most aggressive. "The Liker" feels like it's kicking to stay afloat, with Laubner loading percussion into every conceivable space. He drizzles the track with a synth lead that only gets more caustic over time. Laubner also throws in a distracting robot voice that makes "The Liker" feel almost silly. "Fluffy's Empire" is the more contained cousin, but only slightly—it's still got a demented spring in its step and a rough-around-the-edges bassline. Both tracks show Laubner letting his hair down, and what they lack in his usual subtlety they make up for in pure, infectious energy.
TracklistA1 The Liker
A2 Loop A
B1 Fluffy's Empire
B2 Loop B