Song for Alpha

Across 14 varied tracks, Avery's compositions become engulfing, such is the pull of his palpable textures, dense soundscapes and tantalising beats. [May 2018, p.24]

Gone are the peak-time weapons that peppered Drone Logic; instead Avery teases us with tension and texture, ebbing and flowing his way to something truly hypnotic.

It’s a thoughtful, considered progression by one of the UK’s most thoughtful, considerate producers.

It was already clear from his near-decade of huge DJ sets around the world, but this album cements Daniel Avery as one of the best.

The old bodily pleasure is here, but it’s approached in altogether sterner, more serious ways.

It might take more listens to connect with Alpha than with Drone Logic, but it's just as powerful and fascinating.

These tracks are rescued by gorgeous chords and melodies, which give otherwise grey arrangements rich shades of melancholy and optimism. Avery had a knack for a hook back in the days of Drone Logic, too. His attitude to the dance floor might have changed, but the important stuff hasn't.

The few extra tracks that follow ["Slow Fade"] don’t really do much apart from bloat the run time, which is my only gripe with the record, really. That aside though (and what it lacks in depth, it more than makes up for in atmosphere) it’s an intriguing look at a talented producer carving his own path, and making dancefloors a little bit weirder.

It's a cerebral style that takes a certain willingness to go along with, but if you do you'll come away with an enhanced notion of what contemporary techno has to offer.

Intended settings aside, Song For Alpha demands repeated listening, finding its place oscillating between the ecstasy and dejection of experience.

He achieves an almost architectural sense of scale. [May 2018, p.115]

The sounds here do at times recall territories previously mapped by Brian and RD James, with or without MDMA, but Song For Alpha still makes for an electronic listening album of particular quality. [May 2018, p.93]

This is a strong, sometimes truly beautiful, maturation of Avery’s work as a producer.

It may be a few songs too long and it may require more brain power than your average album, but, if you are willing to put the time in, Song For Alpha rewards you with some of the nicest experimental workings of the year so far.

Daniel Avery has a specific set of tools in his arsenal and these are sometimes spread a bit thin, but Song For Alpha is still a worthy follow-up to 2013’s Drone Logic and an enjoyable listen.