Relentless techno powerhouses Octave One stride in 2022 with a brand new release that re-affirms their status across two essential tracks. 
2021 was another busy year for the Burden Brothers, who re-introduced the world to their Never On Sunday alias. The project first started in the 90s as an outlet for deeper, more introspective sounds and was fittingly brought back last year to great acclaim. The Detroit duo’s Locus of Control series also hit volume number three and the iconic Octave One live show continued to light up clubs everywhere from Barcelona, Paris and Geneva to LA and New York. Despite that, they still had time to cook up more of their famously soulful techno in the studio, the first two tracks of which are presented here.
Opener ‘The Blue Drift’ surges ahead on waves of rattling metallic synths. Well swung claps bring that irresistible sense of groove, while twisted melodies add raw dynamics. Add in the heavy underlying bass and you have a classic Octave One track that is both physical yet emotional. 
On the flip side is ‘It-Just-Is’ a powerful statement of intent. It’s a stripped back track where house and techno meet - there is a seductive slide to the drums and potency in the turbulent synths which bring the energy. The melody is melancholic and as the emotive pads ring out they lodge deep in your brain to make for another standout cut. 
This vital new release proves Octave One remains right at the forefront of underground music more than 30 years after they started out.

Patterns of Power

It-Just-Is

Techno is a family affair.

Arriving onto the electronic scene with "I Believe", featured on the monumental (10 Records) compilation "Techno 2: The Next Generation" (alongside Carl Craig, Marc Kinchen, and Jay Denham) in 1990, Octave One is the brainchild of the phenomenal native sons of Detroit, MI (USA), the Burden Brothers. The core unit of the band, made up of Lenny and Lawrence Burden (with revolving members of Lynell, Lorne, and Lance Burden), have had the privilege of bringing their high energy live shows to many parts of the world, including Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, UK, and the USA, among many other places.

The brothers have released groundbreaking dance anthems on their own Detroit based record label, 430 West Records. Including DJ Rolando's "Jaguar", Random Noise Generation's "Falling in Dub" (the other Burden brother moniker), Aux 88's "My A.U.X. Mind" (on the 430 West sister label Direct Beat), as well as their own Octave One recordings: "Empower", "Nicolette", 'The X-files", "Meridian", “Love and Hate”, “The Greater Good”, and 'Siege". They have remixed tracks for such artists as Massive Attack, Akabu (Joey Negro), DJ Rolando (Jaguar), Steve Bug, John Thomas, Aril Brikha, Vince Watson, The Trampps, Rhythm is Rhythm, and Inner City.

It-Just-Is

octave one