The ever-prolific Lee Norris followed
Spook Tinsel Shoal, his fourth full-length for Hydrogen Dukebox, as
Metamatics, with this sophomore outing for the label under his
Norken moniker. Where
Metamatics takes a more lateral approach,
Norken works more within a 4/4 rigidity,
Themes echoing his
Soul Static Bureau debut with a sound more recognizably classic techno than hard-to-pin-down electronica. A constant melodic thread is certain to delight followers of the original artificial intelligentsia -- with soft synth rises and considered keys sure to shuffle next to the
Plaid,
Black Dog, and early
Aphex of many record collections. ~ Kingsley Marshall