DJ-Kicks

Album review

After the blast from the past that was the reissue of the legendary British drum’n’bass duo Kemistry & Storm’s compilation, the DJ-Kicks series looks forward once again with this Avalon Emerson offering. The American producer and DJ, who made a name for herself on the world techno stage with her track The Frontier in 2016, has quickly cemented herself as one of the most exciting artists of the decade. This DJ-Kicks, while it may seem somewhat premature seems like it should be a no-brainer for Emerson. The ex-computer engineer transports us to her own unique universe over 70 minutes with the same soul that has earned her invitations to some of the most prestigious clubs and festivals on the planet. “I wanted this record to be representative of my club sound while incorporating new music”, she explains.

She begins with a beautiful never-before-heard rendition of Long Forgotten Fairytale from Magnetic Fields by Stephin Merritt, before venturing onto Butterfly by Traneoni (the duo formed by Yello’s Carlos Péron and Boris Blank). The house bomb Doe, Doe, Doe by Anthony Acid (1993) and Breakers in Space by Waveform (with a very English sounding breakbeat from 1994) are of a more vintage style. Avalon Emerson will also excite techno historians with her inclusion Dirtbombs version of the pioneering track Sharevari by A Number Of Names. One should also note the presence of the French Oklour, with her velvety track Level 5, and a very 80s version of the superb Anywayz by Canadian Austra (from her final album HiRUDiN, released in 2020) to perfectly round off the affair. © Smaël Bouaici/Qobuz