RoogUnit is the new production duo fusing together the talents of Luke Slater and Ø [Phase] a.k.a. Ashley Burchett, a pair that have already joined forces in the recent past: Ø contributed a striking remix of the Planetary Assault Systems classic "Dungeon" for the radical reassessment program "Planetary Funk: 22 Light Years," and the two shared DJ duties during last year's "22 Light Years" tour. The apt title of the debut EP for Mote Evolver, "Mesh," suggests a locked grid or set of axes on top of which all sorts of creative possibilities can be sketched out, and it provides a perfect descriptive metaphor for the interaction between these two skillful heads: like carefully interwoven strands, neither half of the duo dominates the proceedings and each individual's contribution strengthens the effect of the other's.

The self-titled leadoff track on "Mesh" is a bracing bombardment of the senses, pulling out all the stops in order to get ever closer to a white-hot core of intensity. This journey to the heart of the sun moves along at a rapid pace, but also with a sense of patience, as new sound elements fade in slowly and surely. Chugging bass sequences, metallic flutters and sparkling high-register arpeggiation all make this into a piece of contained chaos that will engage veteran listeners and certainly teach novices a thing or two.

Before the listener has fully caught his or her breath, "Bugeye" follows suit and proves that the winning formula of the previous track is no one-off affair. A characteristically high-impact percussive track forms the base from which Burchett and Slater implement their plans for layering sonic architecture. Here their experience and determination truly differentiate them from the pack - where others might pile on sounds into an indistinct and fatiguing audio mush, this pair overlaps numerous different tone colors without causing any of them to lose their individual character.

The flipside, "The Chains," is a quintessential late night / early dawn number that leads listeners down subterranean corridors lined with beams of luminescent light and populated by smoke-shrouded men of mystery. On this cut, eerie shivering sonorities float in with all the classic drama of sustained Hammond organ chords; a bed of sound on top of which a cool vocal recitation encourages listeners that everything will be "all right" - although the tension between this laidback narration and the demanding straight-ahead trajectory of the music will allow listeners to make up their own minds on that score.

The full dose of "Mesh" shows two producers clearly at their most focused and precise. Like their best work to date, it will get fans' active imaginations churning - and leave them wondering what this collaboration has in store for the near future.

Words by Thomas Bey William Bailey

Mesh EP

MOTE049 :: RoogUnit - Mesh EP

Ø [Phase] has been a driving force in techno for over two decades, leading the movement with his prototypical, stripped-back sound. Since cutting his teeth at Sony Music London as a mastering engineer in the late ’90s, he’s paved his way unapologetically, often challenging audiences in his relentless pursuit of pure artistry. His stark tracks exude an unbiased confidence that effortlessly commands the dance floor, ripening into quintessential classics. At a deeper glance, his music reveals an unseen complexity that seems to defy time and space—meticulously arranged and fervently produced with technical mastery.

Initially debuting on Steve Bicknell’s Cosmic Records, he became the principal artist of Token Records, eventually launching his own Modwerks label. Besides a steady stream of critically acclaimed releases under his solo moniker, Ø [Phase]’s expansive projects include ongoing collaborations with Luke Slater as Roog Unit and Phyxix alongside Matrixxman. He’s co-produced iconic tracks with UK legends Underworld and crafted definitive remixes for the likes of Robert Hood, Scuba, and Rødhåd, but his momentum won’t stop there. Catch him touring extensively, headlining events at ADE, Berghain, Dekmantel, Fabric, and diverse cities across the globe. Ø [Phase] maintains his position at the forefront of techno innovation, continually redefining the essence of underground music.

ON A SCALE OF TECHNO TO TECHNO HOW MUCH TECHNO DO YOU TECHNO? 
[Born in Germany 1989] 
//Hypnotic and atmospheric nothing more to say just techno music, my first ❤️ is Drum 'n' Bass \\
aka Alexander Stockhaus
-Influences
 \\ Chicago + Detroit + Frankfurt + Berlin + Kiel + Bremen + Amsterdam//

MOTE049 :: RoogUnit - Mesh EP

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