London based producer Christian Piers has a decade of production experience and a discography that spans house, techno and drum and bass. He is a long-term friend of 17 Steps, and became the second artist to release on the label after label heads Dusky back in 2015. Acclaimed releases on Curle and with Leon Vynehall as Laszlo Dancehall have sustained Christians' reputation as a truly versatile producer. With ‘Virus’, his debut LP under this alias, Christian puts himself forward an exceptional and compelling voice in UK techno, drawing on his experience in drum and bass and breaks, a sample heavy hip-hop inspired approach to production and a dubbed out, industrial techno aesthetic. Opener ‘Extrinsic’ lays the foundations, combining cavernous drones and rattling breaks over submerged kicks, conjuring up images of chasmal warehouses, dusty basements and rattling window frames. Elsewhere delay soaked stabs bounce off combative breaks. A dialogue between Christians’ influences ensues that’s as captivating as it is individual. Christian creates passages of intense energy without breaking a sweat. Cold atmospheres are navigated with an unhurried authority and confidence that prevents them from becoming desolate. Behind the gritty haze and forceful bassweight Christian hides the playful, agile rhythms that have become his signature – percussive sounds stumble and roll in the background, whip like snares slice through the fog. ‘Virus’ is an exhilarating ride; right up to the final bars of the teasing, anti-climactic dancefloor weapon ‘Resource Depletion’. The infinite rising tones of the closer are a bold and forward looking statement of intent from an artist whose evolution continues to unfold. More

One half of Laszlo Dancehall with Leon Vynehall, Christian Piers returns to Dusky’s 17 Steps with three tracks of machine driven music aimed at the dancefloor.
Leading with the heavyweight techno of ‘Detachment’, the package also includes the dark mechanical rhythms of ‘Expanse’ and drum workout ’Strain’, as well as Trevino’s stripped back dub techno interpretation of ‘Detachment’. More

Dusky's 17 Steps opens 2015 by welcoming its first signed artist to the label in the much-admired London producer Christian Piers.One half of Laszlo Dancehall with Leon Vynehall, Christian Piers' 'Beat Wiser EP' follows his recent single on Curle Recordings which has been supported by the likes of DVS1, Âme, Axel Bowman and Jonas Kopp. A mainstay in Dusky's sets in recent months, the lead track 'Offf' is a monstrous techno drum track rewired with Roland Alpha Juno esque hoovers and sinister atmosphere, 'Offf' has proved a reliable dancefloor detonator on both big festival stages and intimate basements in recent months. A refreshing and dark take on classic acid, the EPs title track 'Beat Wiser' balances sharp, surging machine funk 303s with a tribal and organic percussion approach for a unique club tool.Closing the diverse EP, 'Onn' again draws on a tribal groove, this time set against looping, hypnotic techno soundscapes. More