As one of the founders of cult techno label Underground Resistance, Robert Hood will always inspire devotion amongst techno fans. His first album, Minimal Nation, helped set the sparse, minimalist blueprint of modern techno, and with Wire To Wire he’s added increased warmth to his production.

With Wire To Wire, Hood takes the minimal, clean electronic-ness of the genre, and fills it out a little. The Detroit strings and 4/4 drive are restrained, he’s cut back on the jazz and left the samples out altogether. Instead, he’s fattened things out with bass-heavy hip hop beats and organic funk.

‘High Plains Drifter’ introduces subtle hints of leftfield electronics, while tracks like ‘Interior Suspect’ engulf the ear in melody. The throbbing sub bass of ‘Upon a Millennial Moment’ underlies cinematic synth waves, while the restrained vibe elsewhere is let loose into smooth dancefloor-friendly dubbed out techno.

Wire To Wire is not just for techno fans, this string-led and beat orientated record is rooted in the worlds of hip hop, electronics and deep house. It’s the sound of Carl Craig caught in the studio with DJ Premier, and it’s sure to gain Hood plenty of new fans.

(Peacefrog/Inertia)