Album Review: Gesaffelstein - Aleph

Gesaffelstein
Aleph
Rating: Grrrr

Probably best known at the moment for producing "Black Skinhead" and "Send It Up" on Kanye West's industrial leaning record Yeezus, French techno producer Mike Levy, who produces under the name Gesaffelstein, releases his debut record Aleph, a dense, foreboding set of dark techno. On listening to these tracks, one immediately sees what drew West to use the producer, as every square inch of each track is polished to a superhuman sheen, dripping with menace and darkness, even on the handful of more atmospheric numbers.

Drawing from traditional techno to more intense genres like industrial and EBM, with even a slight touchdown in hip-hop, Levy has constructed an immaculately produced set of tracks. At over an hour, it is not an easy listen, with several of the tracks pummeling you with over-the-top aggression. The pacing, however, breaks up these intense assaults with carefully placed moments that pull you back into this sleek world. The majority of listeners will be drawn to the more dance-floor ready techno tracks. Best of the lot include the funky techno of banger "Trans;"



first single and massively overwhelming EBM leaning track "Pursuit;"



slippery techno of "Duel;"



and the throbbingly dense "Hate Or Glory."



There are also moments where Levy changes things up to marvelous effect, like on the hip-hop twisted track "Hellifornia," whose bone rattling bass will either set you off running or banging your head furiously;



or the sublime "Values," with its lonely core of synths, and dramatic arc and sweep.



And Levy keeps it all in balance with a variety of quieter, though no less sinister, instrumentals that keeps everything in line. From the longing, wandering mists of "Nameless," the Aphex Twin playfulness of "Wall of Memories," to the almost pastoral elegance of title track "Aleph,"



Levy keeps a firm hand and direction on where Aleph is heading at all times.

Even when you think you know where Aleph is heading, Levy is always one or two steps ahead of you at all times, subverting all your expectations. It is a masterful stroke of production and pacing that is frequently stunning. One of the best techno records of the year, Aleph is both heaven for those wanting dancefloor bangers and for those wanting more serious, headphone leaning sounds.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.