Joel Boychuk, aka Hobo, has risen up the ranks of the techno underbelly in only a couple short years and has quickly solidified his placement amongst the cream of the crop. Both his debut mini-album “From A To B” and his exceptionally well-produced “Trackz” EP climbed the DJ charts, receiving praise from techno’s most widely-respected DJs. Still in his mid-twenties, Hobo has clearly done his research into what works at the clubs, as he has used his knowledge to craft powerful dancefloor bombs with enough creative juice to both entertain the feet and twist the brain into a sloppy mess of mental hysteria. His third outing for Minus is a double whammy of funkatronic hobo-techno, with both tracks showcasing two very distinct journeys into the depths of his musical merry-makings.
The a-side, Berlin Booty is a proper party jam set to wake up the freaks and party animals and get their asses shaking. Berlin Booty slowly simmers to a boil, slyly adding a slight aggression and an air of darkness, with crisp and clear percussive elements driving the sounds along. The track takes full use of clever volume control, with certain aspects appearing suddenly at the forefront of the mix, when just a few moments earlier they were the least noticed elements of the track. An incredibly sinister and massive saw wave bass tone dominates the cut, with growling, grinding frequencies guaranteed to make the partygoers sneer a devilish grin from the dancefloor. Effective and perfectly-timed breakdowns complete with dramatic returns keep the track fresh from the start to the end, while the clever use of filters help take the bass buzz down into a deep and demented vortex.
The most accomplished DJs know that the most important tracks in the night are not the ones with the most frills and spills, but rather the grooves and steady tracks which build anticipation and tension. Such is the case with the b-side, Three East, which is a crisp and clean DJ tool made with the strong punch of a 4/4 rhythm forcing itself directly out from the speakers and towards the dancefloor. Amidst the steady flow, however, are a few moments of unease – clearly placed to showcase the demented nature of Hobo's aesthetic as he cunningly adds unsettling loops of sound which flow in and out, giving the listener a flickering feeling of disorientation before returning them to reality.
Hobo's latest EP stands strong alongside his previous releases, with the two tracks on Berlin Booty packing just as much dancefloor ammunition as all of his previous works combined. Joel's ability to fuse form and function with his tracks are developing at an unstoppable pace, and his keen sense of musical playfulness and smart sonic experimentalism is now more apparent than ever. Although living his life under the 'Hobo' guise, we're quite happy to have opened the doors for Joel and given him a home, with Minus.
Track Listing Vinyl:
A. Berlin Booty
B. Three East
Digital only track: Obesity
Out @ 15.11.2010
http://www.wordandsound.de/article/67889
