No Future

Album review

Making his debut on Ghostly International following releases on Werkdiscs, R&S, and Ghostly's sister label Spectral Sound, No Future is the second full-length from London-based producer Moiré. The album is on par with the artist's exceptional brand of scuffed-up house that initially attracted the attention of Werkdiscs boss Actress, but on this release, there's more of a socially conscious bent to his work. Without making any specific political statements, the album's title is meant as a simple, dead-serious warning as to what will happen if the world continues in the direction that it's going. It's also a commentary on the state of club culture, with the closure of important venues like Plastic People and Fabric (which reopened due to widespread protesting, but with stricter guidelines). As such, the album seems a bit more paranoid and tense than previous Moiré releases. While most of the tracks are instrumental, two tracks featuring DRS (an MC best known for working with jungle/drum'n'bass innovators like LTJ Bukem and Blame) express these concerns with straightforward lyrics. On "Lost You," DRS states "I don't even want to breathe the same air as these hypocrites, I'm wishing I could go without... It's looking like there's no way out." Even without lyrics, the music is still slightly on edge, with beats often tipping into the red; on the right sound system, it could be nearly suffocating. While the tracks generally have heavy, 4/4 beat patterns, at times they're a bit disconnected with the atmospheric pads, sporadic bass tones, and gritty samples. It's a bit disorienting, but in a fascinating way. And ultimately, it's not as hopeless or nihilistic as the title suggests. "Opposites" is a tense yet tender electro cut which nearly sounds like it could've been a lost track by Drexciya offshoot the Other People Place. "Bootleg," the other DRS-featuring selection, speaks of a "fallen angel with a heart of gold" over smooth keyboards and a bulbous bassline. Following tracks "Façade" and "System 100" both balance rough, low-slung beats with lush synths, as well as subtle basslines that creep up on you. Turbulent yet strangely comforting, No Future is one of Moiré's best works yet.
© Paul Simpson /TiVo