Medium Rare places Excalibur and DJ Spence among the authors of one of the most convincing club releases of the past few months. Released on Doo, the Canadian duo craft two tracks of meditative, reductionist dub techno built on tension between presence and absence, on the space between one kick drum hit and the next. The Montréal-based label continues to stand out as one of the key forces in the new club avant-garde, moving between minimal techno and dub without settling into formulas.
Excalibur, aka Cal Lakevold, has spent over a decade active with Patcool, performing DJ sets and acid live shows. DJ Spence is involved in Psychfest with the tape Shrub Side/Club Side, the first Doo release, and records under the name SnP 500 alongside Sentena. The title track unfolds as an organic sculpture of hinted dub chords, restrained percussive gestures, a subdued kick and a hi-hat that is barely there. It is precisely on the hi-hat that the LFO comes into play.
Slow, cyclical changes in volume allow it to fade in and out, keeping it almost constantly in the background. Everything feels slightly evanescent. Whether it is the near-invisible hi-hat, the muted percussion or the softened kick, each element is wrapped in a thin layer of reverb, both analog and futuristic, opening spatial corridors and stretching the listener’s sense of depth. The reference to Maurizio’s seminal EPs is evident, yet never nostalgic. On the other side, Simmer deepens the introspective mood.
A four-on-the-floor kick with additional in-between hits, a subtly shifting hi-hat, sparse post-dub chords, a pad slowly evolving over time, and a few restrained percussive touches: nothing else. The structure rests on gradual variations. Nothing tries to impress; everything remains measured and elegant. If the first track hints at a submerged banger, Simmer shapes a more lethargic atmosphere, less punchy yet equally effective, managing to deliver a sense of cohesion that sits outside standard club frameworks.
