The quiet before the storm. The abyss before birth. The moments that came before everything else. This is Episode Zero, Ben Gibson’s inaugural album on Chronicle. It takes us soaring through a musical narrative, beaming down into vast acoustic valleys of sound. From the very rst notes the intent is apparent, lucidly slipping into a pool of full moon atmospherics. Departing deeper he carefully calculates each and every step, building momentum and pace until the way back is completely forgotten. Tracks like “Foreclosure” reach peak potential with crushed, mangled percussion, while others such as “Symptom” maintain a more seductive yet equally deadly pull. Building upon pillars of 12”s, Chronicle and Ben Gibson are now venturing into a new territory with Episode Zero marking the rst step. Join us.

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More than six years into his career after several EPs and a full album, there isn’t much known about Ben Gibson, and he is clearly keeping it that way with intent. Gibson first emerged on Jeff Mills’ experimental, influential 6277 sublabel but then again vanished into the ether; he only reappeared three years later on Perc Trax, even more surprisingly with a full-length. Since then, he’s gone on to steadily more notice with Perc’s imprint, Sect Records, and most recently M_Rec LTD in spite of the continuing lack of information. Exposure isn’t the most important thing for us at Chronicle though, and after hearing these five tracks, we saw exactly what it is that drew Mills to him from the beginning. It is a sound that we find a perfect fit for the techno futurism of our Chronicle series, and here we offer a platform for Gibson’s more sci-fi, ethereal sounding material, exclusively on vinyl for the fifth edition of our sublabel. It commences mysteriously with the big room drones of Almaz, which clearly references the work of the Detroit pioneer who initially brought him to notice. The textures of the keys slowly morph as they’re interrupted by garbled static pulses, and the tension builds steadily over the duration as the atmospheres become thicker and stark, minimalist techno drums make their entrance to develop alongside the rest. After the opener takes a quiet bow, Cemlins continues mood he has built in a static-laden soundscape of gently shifting rhythm and held tones which move steadily upward to a rousing finale. The second side opens more succinctly in techno territory with Vapour, but it again takes a lighter hand with bell-like tones floating over the rest. Here, the feeling remains optimistic rather than ominous, but he quickly shifts back for Miasma, a subtly uneasy techno track full of unbridled intent. Rhythmic static and low-mixed, funky bass move in a deliberate pace with the delicately developed drum programs. Finally, the almost-vocal sound of the haunting lead in Convey brings this mini-album to its quietly emotional conclusion. While unquestionably subdued compared to the work of many of his contemporaries, Ben Gibson’s music accomplishes expressiveness in its delicacy that is rare in modern techno. As such, it stands in the company of few but in perfect counterpoint with the rest, and as an exciting outlier and addition to Chonicle’s explorations.

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Having swiftly carved a niche for himself amongst the likes of Perc, Ben Gibson returns to Sect to deliver more of his brooding and engaging techno. There's a great emphasis on sound design and atmospherics in the two tracks on Quien Es?, as ominous clangs and tense tones hang heavy over rugged drum workouts. "Ceased To Gasp" is the more industrial of the two, but still allows for a melodic slant in the cavernous echoes that define the track. "Remain" adopt a swirling, psychedelic approach to sonic decoration that draws you in just as it continues flooring you, like all good techno should. Highly recommended More

Unstoppable! The Militia is back. The Lyon-based crew should have chosen James Bond for this seventh reference, but they asked Asbrey, Mark Asbrey. After the relentless "Utricule E.P." from last year, London artist Fundamental Interaction delivers his second release for the label. Night-birds must be careful : This is a ************* coup d'état, aimed straight at the dancefloor. There's a fresh emergent scene in the UK, no doubt!



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After a short journey outta space, the Militia strikes back on earth with its sixth reference! Inspired by the 90s Detroit scene, UK-based producer Binny delivers here two fantastic weapons, full of Millsian reminiscences, but still away from the hiss and swooshes. Both Destroyer & A Function Of Time stay to the essential elements, combinating hardness and soul masterfully. On the B side, Fundamental Interaction’s remix as well as Antigone’s reconstruction surprises with an unexpected u-turn. In fact, any techno addict will find his dose on this release.


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The Lyon-based french label strikes again for its one year anniversary. In line with its characteristic sinuous way to explore the various side of the underground techno scene, the mysterious Clft Militia delivers this time a very functional and effective whack, with non other purpose than banging the dancefloors. Londonian newcomer Fundamental Interaction's debut EP offers two monster tunes of dark sounding retroesque techno. On the B side, Lee Holman's storming & percussive remix, as well as veteran legend Aubrey Saei's massive endarkement, finalize this release immaculately. A must have from the Messiahs to the Masses.



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Without army nor rhetoric, Dying & Barakat are proposing nothing but the ethereal conviction of their senses. Floating musical matter, strangely ligatured, convicciòn pours its complex epigenesis, reveals its wefts, searching for its most authentic form, loosing languages, only surrounding its audience towards its curious euphonia. A bizarre composition altering our perception, reaching each man's tempers, inviting into its chinks every sonic metamorphosis: from its aerials peels, oxidized by MTD's industrial catabasis, from its chaotic progression, engorged into Jeroen Search's inebriant loops, from its blueish layers thicken by Mattias Fridell's cavernous tribal grain. Supported by the kind sympathies of: Eric Cloutier, Lee Holman, Thomas Hessler, Ben Gibson, Albert Van Abbe, Philippe Petit... More

CLFT is taking another step into the techno scene, releasing the first record of its own label. A techno imprint as versatile as the french webzine, with a Basic Channel touch that will feed every man's complex musical attractions. Italian producer Kaelan impulses the label's debut with Callout and Void, two clean dubby tracks showing the producer's ability in composing opaque and obsessive atmospheres. Londoner Fundamental Interaction exploits A1's moody gesture while Ben Gibson's first ever remix takes on a progressive and groovier approach of A2. With the sympathies of: Aubrey; Albert van Abbe; Abdullah Rashim; AnD; Miles Sergé; Eric Cloutier; Lenny Posso; Unbalance; Jeroen Search, Anthony Shake Shakir...

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