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Album Review: Dark Matter Project - Space Time Emotion


Time for something a little different with Dark Matter Project - Using hypnotic techno to cut deeply in to your reality and analyse yourself, the music, and the world around you with this album of deep thought.



Dark Matter Project – Space Time Emotion


Shane dB/Dark Matter Project is a DJ, Artist and Producer based in Camden Town, London. It has been 2 years since he released his debut – Lost Dimensions EP in November 2023 on Black Hole Transmissions. Black Hole Transmissions is a collaborative label project of Dark Matter Project in London and Solenoid in Berlin to release our music.


This new EP – Space Time Emotion is quite a departure from the warehouse style techno of Lost Dimensions although that has gained over 10,000 streams on digital platforms with 8000 being for being for its signature track Is Your Love? (Feat. Eva Melon) alone and over 8700 Shazams that still increases by 100+ Shazams on a weekly basis. It’s just not stopping! It has been played by DJs in clubs throughout Europe, the USA and Japan. Plus, its radio reach has been quite something.


With Space Time Emotion, Shane dB/Dark Matter Project was rooting for a more deep and hypnotic techno sound that retains its rawness. We kick o with the 1st track being a complete overhaul and remix of Is Your Love? featuring a friend, anime songstress and YouTuber, Maimiko Liz, based in Tokyo, Japan. It is also a Japanese language version of the track. Mamiko Liz has a deep and hypnotic vocal sound that fitted this remix perfectly with the softening on the synth rift, slowing it down to 132 bpm to enhance and create a deep groove.


Track 2 kicks o with the Acid Techno inspired Acid Pain and is the hardest track on the EP. During the mix we were experimenting with acid riffs to become more extreme however, Shane just was not happy to reproduce that usual insane acid bassline as he wanted to retain a hypnotic feel to it. Shane was messing about with ANA synth when he came up with those riffs and added the vocal samples to give it more intense flow.


The 3rd track, Careless (feat. Karen Bell) suggest a deep, dark and sinister sound with a main synth that is disjointed to feel that coldness. It was -7 in Berlin during this mix. The vocal samples were provided by Karen Bell of the London based industrial synthpop duo, Palindrones, who are making quite the splash on the UK gothic industrial and synth wave circuit. A truly foreboding track recognised for its coldness.


Track 4, Schwarzfahrer Teil Zwei, is a rework of one of Shane’s old tracks, Schwarzfahrer. It uses the same sounds as the original, but those sounds have been totally warped to create a hypnotic bell sound over the deep bassline. Intro samples were taken from the S-Bahn platform announcement at Warschauer Strasse, Berlin.


For track 5, we are treated to an amazing deeply moving house remix with dub overtones by Solenoid in Berlin. In this case both English language and Japanese vocal sample by Mamiko Liz to create a dreamy but hard sound over deep synth and moving synth riffs. A truly phenomenal remix that will not disappoint techno, house and dub fans alike.


Shane dB is also currently writing and researching his PhD Music thesis on the role of the digital audio workstation in techno music production at Goldsmiths College, University of London.


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Review


Strutting your way through town, fascinated by an indie art exhibit, or dancing away at a London nightclub unexpectedly at 3am, 'Is Your Love?' (Feat. Mamiko Liz) opens with a simple house techno vibe that puts you in to a thoughtful mindset to contemplate the following tracks. 'Acid Pain' makes me think of 80's apocalyptic horror like the film 'Hardware' with is constant energetic and 'edge of your seat' vibe electronics. You can really tell Shane dB has rally gone all in with the provocation of emotion as the album title ascribes to.


'Careless' (feat. Karen Bell)(of Palindrones) feels like the theme of a traumatic flashback with it's swarm like repeating synth, occasional haunting laughter, and almost playground like taunting vocals.


'Schwarzfahrer Teil Zwes' or 'Fare Dodger Part Two' for those unfamiliar with German, has a sense or urgency, a bit like the clock theme on Countdown, or the tune just before an urgent news broadcast.

Finally the Solenoid House Mix of 'Is Your Love?' wraps up the release adds in extra layers of distorted synth keyboards creating an extra injection of energy and intrigue


Conclusion


Space Time Emotion by Dark Matter Project really does make you aware of just that, the space around you, the time you find yourself listening to it, and the emotions with which it provokes - or has you remember; Which, intentional or not makes, for an intriguing concept using simple, chilled, yet hypnotic techno.

Shane dB has presented something full of contemplation, just as all true art and expression should, and that in itself is a fine, fine thing to achieve through passion of music.

Thank you!


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