Though I am usually quite hesitant about consuming exotics I have to say I love acid (house). Through synthetic synthesis in the dance clubs of 80′s Chicago, heavy dosages of acid (house) is known to cause hypnogogic states of euphoria, unhealthy amounts of relaxation, open-mindedness and numbing of the calf muscles due to prolonged movement of the pelvis. Though some might say the heyday of acid house has come and gone artists like Johannes Auvinen, AKA Tin Man are still pushing the genre forward in novel ways. I first heard of Tin Man via Vision Quest’s stunningly executed Fabric release last year. It begins with an ambient breeze foreshadowing an analogue tsunami building in the distance just before you’re bombarded with a torrent of sexy high hats, liquid keys and this satisfyingly wonky bass as a monotonous man repeats my personal MO, “Just relax, man…”.

His latest LP Neo Neo Acid out on Absurd Recordings is a sumptuous collection of tracks that everyone should get a hold of. I must admit that my knowledge of the acid house genre revolves around Aphex Twin’s Selected Ambient works 85-92 and The Orb but this LP is something special, and not only because five of the eight title tracks contain the word “acid”. Neo Neo Acid continues Auvinen’s trend of creating concept albums because it feels like a “complete” record, a cohesive body of tracks best enjoyed in order from beginning to end. This may or may not be club music depending on your patience as most tracks are over 7 minutes long and lean towards the hypnotic side. All songs follow a simple formula whose variables are expertly manipulated with as Auvinen garnishes the final product with warping effects, compressed drums and distorted synths to more than pleasurable results.

Though the whole album is amazing there are some definite highlights. “Manifesto Acid” conjures images of pocky-based shinkansens traversing amethyst crystal peaks toward foreign lands where bongos and high hats are in excess… a place most reasonable people wouldn’t mind being. “Plastic Arts” is something special that must be kept till 8:30 in the morning after a long long night of clubbing to reassure you and your friends that all is well and that you made it through the worst part of the weekend. Happy listening

Tin Man – Wasteland

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Tin Man – Manifesto Acid

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Tin Man – Plastic Arts

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By Laurence ‘Pucho’ Henriquez