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 aesthetics without settling into formulas.
Excalibur, aka Cal Lakevold, is far from a newcomer: active with Patcool and performing DJ sets and acid live shows for over a decade, he brings a refined sonic identity. DJ Spence is also involved in Psychfest with the tape Shrub Side/Club Side, the first Doo release, and under the name SnP 500, alongside Sentena, he has signed some of the strongest club records of recent times.
Far from passing trends, 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, allowing it to fade in and out through slow, cyclical changes in volume, 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. The elements can be counted on one hand: 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. The structure rests on delicate, 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 in just twelve minutes to deliver a sense of cohesion that sits outside standard club frameworks.
