level records

Daniel Fritschi is the founder and head of ?level records?, a new minimal-electronic label from Düsseldorf, Germany. After releasing his debut-track ?vortex? together with tracks by Oliver Hacke, Rhythm_Maker and Andy Vaz on the compilation ?quartett ep? (level1), Daniel Fritschi finally steps out of the background and establishes himself as a full-fledged musician with this 4-track 12? vinyl, called ?Intonation EP?. a1 flexion-wavelet The a-side starts with ?flexion-wavelet? ? a track of 120 BPM with mellow chords and filigree clicks, zaps and bleeps. The track tenderly develops into a free-floating and deep ambience, thinning out here and there to intonate a delicate piano melody and a counterbalanced more techno kind of bass drum. The bouncing bass and the smooth flow of ?Flexion-Wavelet? maturely explore the ramifications of minimal techno ? it has a similar flavour as ?vortex,? Fritschi?s debut track on the ?quartet ep? (Level 1) compilation. a2 adrift ?adrift? merges classic Detroit-like augmented chords with a driving groove at a 120 BPM. The result is a very deep yet merry house-track with a catchy bass line and adorned by gentle clicks. The long chords and sharp hits take some surprising changes and manage to keep the tension and capricious mood adrift until the last reverberations have faded away. b1 follicle follies The b-side speeds up the tempo with ?follicle follies? to a driving 130 BPM. Fluffy and fidgety micro-grooves are embedded by analogue bass-sweeps and weird sine waves that keep bouncing around the beat. The chords eventually resolve in a downward movement, giving the playful depths of the track a decent and relaxing atmosphere. b2 interglacial ?interglacial? leaves the 4/4 territories and enters the realm of deep ambience with an almost imperceptible 75 BPM. Held together by a long drone and a meandering bass line, the abstract sound scenery of ?interglacial? moves through cascades of solemn beat-patterns, pierced by distant screeches, fragile crackles and loose crystalline sounds. A sheer incessant chill and thrill.