Considering Matrixxman's (aka Charlie Duff) prolific and sometimes patchy output over the past few years, his debut album for Ghostly International is a decidedly focused affair, trading in Detroit-influenced techno while being grounded in forward-thinking futurism, with sci-fi undercurrents. While cuts like the electro-fuelled "Red Light District" take a bit of a diversion from the bleak, moody techno that characterizes Homesick, Duff's understanding of the connections between the early tracks coming out of Berlin and the Motor City, and its eventual evolution into the Detroit sound, are evident.
On "Switchblade," Matrixxman's skilful drum programming gets a workout alongside bold synth stabs that ripple and reverberate throughout the track. His acid-laced explorations on "Packard Plant" and droning ambient approach on "Dejected" are more than just history revisited; Duff stretches the edges of his sound design while maintaining the vision he set out for the album before slipping back into precise analog techno for "Network Failure" and "False Pattern Recognition." More than just a debut, Homesick is a window into the mind of a producer who isn't afraid to reveal his influences while forging his own distinct path.
(Ghostly)On "Switchblade," Matrixxman's skilful drum programming gets a workout alongside bold synth stabs that ripple and reverberate throughout the track. His acid-laced explorations on "Packard Plant" and droning ambient approach on "Dejected" are more than just history revisited; Duff stretches the edges of his sound design while maintaining the vision he set out for the album before slipping back into precise analog techno for "Network Failure" and "False Pattern Recognition." More than just a debut, Homesick is a window into the mind of a producer who isn't afraid to reveal his influences while forging his own distinct path.