Ostgut Ton — the label run by Berlin's storied Berghain club — has established a deep catalogue of forward thinking dance music over its almost decade-long existence. As the human behind the Answer Code Request moniker, Patrick Gräser is a relatively new addition to the imprint, with only the Breathe EP and this phenomenal debut album seeing the light of day under the Ostgut Ton banner. That being said, with a handful of 12-inch platters for Marcel Dettmann Records and his own ACR label, Gräser is certainly no greenhorn when it comes to producing quality tracks.
Code is not merely a collection of disparate dance tunes, however; the producer has assembled a cohesive sonic narrative that explores many of electronic music's cracks and crevices, with influences that include both Detroit and Berlin techno and classic U.K. IDM. Tracks such as "Blue Russian" and "Field Depth" bubble over with complex drum patterns and left-field moves, while "Status" and "By the Bay" prance down a more straightforward path. The ghostly title track and the almost operatic "Spin Off" are as near to being ambient as Gräser will allow.
With a broad palette to draw from, Gräser has created a refined blend of styles that expresses both his skill as a producer and his knowledge of the history of electronic music.
(Ostgut Ton)Code is not merely a collection of disparate dance tunes, however; the producer has assembled a cohesive sonic narrative that explores many of electronic music's cracks and crevices, with influences that include both Detroit and Berlin techno and classic U.K. IDM. Tracks such as "Blue Russian" and "Field Depth" bubble over with complex drum patterns and left-field moves, while "Status" and "By the Bay" prance down a more straightforward path. The ghostly title track and the almost operatic "Spin Off" are as near to being ambient as Gräser will allow.
With a broad palette to draw from, Gräser has created a refined blend of styles that expresses both his skill as a producer and his knowledge of the history of electronic music.