Bleep

Benjamin Damage’s second solo album is also the final album to be released on Modeselektor’s 50 Weapons label. Obsidian sees Damage eschew the functionality of his club 12”s in favour of something with a stronger emotional heft. The album still bangs, but there’s a far greater range of styles that he draws from: ‘Tetrapod’ noodles like a jazz record, ‘Pulse Width’ takes UK funky to outer space, ‘Shimmer’ revels in its ecstatic synth work, while ‘Poly’ ventures into more abstract territories. These diverse sounds are anchored by Damage’s techno rhythms, which give the record its forward drive. The results share spiritual similarities with heroes like Autechre and Plaid.