- You have to admire Liar for his hands-on approach with Tessier-Ashpool Recordings. The man behind the "genre-obsolete" digi label oversees all the mastering and artwork, along with Jesse Somfay, and he pens the lengthy notes that accompany every release. It all points to someone who's terribly invested in what he does, and several interviews confirm the notion. Liar has been articulate about his A&R process—"quality, sophistication, futurism," is what holds it all together, he says. And yet, 12 records deep, the label's catalog remains a scattered affair.
Dublin duo Torso is the newest addition to TAR's cyber-club roster, and their Human Resources EP has been primed for the bass heads. On "Correct Translation Of A Headbutt," vocalised, Swamp 81-style techno opens the record with plenty of swagger. An apocalyptic dread lingers in the background, which "Fat Vint" picks up and rolls into screeching technoid FX, pummelling drums and doomy glitches. It's meant to be dramatic but comes off a bit tinny. Liar's "Optimix" version is better, delivering his label's retro-futuristic schtick in an intro that sounds like machines malfunctioning. But it's the electro bounce in Mutual Friend's remix of "Correct Translation Of A Headbut" that leaves the most lasting impression. Sitting somewhere between chilly horror soundtrack and a grim dance floor sendup, it gets weird without being so over the top about it.
Tracklist01. Correct Translation Of A Headbutt
02. Correct Translation Of A Headbutt (Mutual Friend Remix)
03. Fat Vint
04. Fat Vint (Liar Optimix)