Tectonics

by John BushJust as the disparate styles in electronic dance began drifting, like continents, so far apart it seemed unlikely they'd ever be within hailing distance of each other again, one of Britain's brightest young DJs brought them all back into the fold. On Tectonics, Adam Freeland compiled a selection of tracks that hark to techno as much as trance, house as much as breakbeat, and made a fresh form out of the strengths of many different styles. Freeland simultaneously assimilates the mid-tempo breakbeats and analog paranoia of drum'n'bass, the streamlined flair and elegance of progressive trance, and the edge and hardness of techno, with delicious, refreshing results. Many of the tracks are associated with Britain's growing tech-house movement, with Freeland compatriots like Layo & Bushwacka, Kevin Beber, and ILS making appearances. (Freeland himself comprises half of Tsunami One, whose "Hip Hop Phenomenon" collaboration with BT is included here). Just as the dozens of dance styles out there began getting codified (and stale), Freeland took the best parts of each and produced one of the year's brightest mix albums.