V/A –   Synthesize Minds Vol. 1

It’s easy to get sucked into the eternal pull of old-school Detroit techno, so much so that we might fail to see what’s happening in the present moment. Huey Mnemonic sets out to rectify that oversight with ‘Synthesize Minds Vol. 1’ on his own Ebon label (AKA Subsonic Ebonics). This ten-track collection surveys the contemporary electronic scene across Detroit, Chicago and NYC. The meeting of minds materialises via a shared affinity for mutant, metallic-hued strains of techno, electro, and bass; every cut sets out a sweet spot between danceable functionality and experimental flair. Take Nicaragua-born, Chicago-based Alejandro Marenco’s ‘Gusano’, a percussively tactile piece that will appeal to fans of TraTraTrax’s more sedately-paced output. Venturing further down the rabbit hole, NYC’s Gladstone Deluxe marries a loose-limbed array of syncopated percussion with quirky synth twangs and textures on ‘Portal C5AD’. There are also grittier, higher-BPM offerings from the likes of 3rd Sphere (the pseudonym of Huey Mnemonic and 2Lanes), Kanyon and Sard, but the standard here is uniformly impressive; an astute take on techno-adjacent sounds for the here and now.