Dictum / Factum

Dictum / Factum

Nooncat [Trenton]

17 October, 2007 | 1.38PM

• Section: Music Reviews
• Written by: Lee Smith

Russia’s Nooncat was knocking out his cool, edgily synthetic club techno on labels like Trapez and Triebstoff some six years ago, and after a slow period, seems to be back on it with a recent series of killer releases on a handful of underground labels.

‘Dictum’ is a good example of his knack for combining accessible grooves with subtly fierce undertones, with a searing, cascading synth line injecting some serious power into a taut, pokey groove.

Simply put together but bristling with menace, it’s headed directly for the infernal depths of the dancefloor.

‘Factum’ is lighter in tone, but only marginally; the bassline cautiously sneaks its head above the jittering groove like a sniper waiting for his moment.

Fractured chimes give the track plenty of swing, but for all its tightly sprung intentions, it never quite gets to where it promises.

Probably the biggest attraction of the EP is a remix of ‘Dictum’ by Matt Star, whose ‘Hypno’ track emerged as one of the biggest tunes of the summer, and whose no-nonsense, instinctive style is exactly the sort of thing shaking minimally-inclined dancefloors the world over right now.

In fairness, his remix is remarkably similar to Nooncat’s original, with that descending wave of sound and spikey static stabs appearing again, but Star loosens up the drums for a more rolling, kinetic experience.

No matter which of the mixes you opt for, you can pretty much guarantee it’ll do the business, regardless.

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