Dense And Pika – Colt EP

Review: 'Colt' is a true UK techno classic. With reissuers Armada hailing it a "scene-shaking" release by fabric favourites Alex Jones and Chris Spero (Dense & Pika), this tune turned heads after its use in an RA documentary on the Smithfield clubbing site, though it had moved the feet and hearts of many rooms long before then. With soft, coltish horsepower - and just the right measure of saturation and crunch laid on the piano - 'Colt' made Dense & Pika's name with its argent chords and post-jack kickside rhythms. Then the following tracks set down a whole vibe manifesto: 'Black Deep' gave up melody for pure inharmony in the lows, 'Vomee' came with huge textural sweep and Reese design, and 'Airless' provided a lagging drum circle continuum set to their own techno style, charming for its lack of a need for speed.