Marcel Dettmann

It's nearly impossible to separate the identity of Marcel Dettmann the techno producer from his role as a resident DJ at Berghain. Elements of Dettmann II are rooted in the dark, mechanical-influenced techno he's been associated with during his time at the Berlin institution, but his sophomore release is also shaped by understated, pulsing grooves and restrained rhythms. Stripped back, Dettmann's clanking synths, uncompromising bass lines and focused percussion avoid being heavy-handed. On "Soar," he carefully assembles sparsely crafted house elements with tough-sounding drums. "Ductil" has an unwinding synth line that ripples around, feeling like it is never going to end, while "Shiver," "Outback" and "Stranger" provide an ambient diversion that helps to break up the occasionally monochrome nature of the German producer's output. The simplicity of "Radar" is deceiving, however, slowly allowing a bellowing synth to build to a high-anxiety conclusion. Dettmann's poker-faced beats may have been condensed on his second release, but that doesn't mean his brand of techno is any less absorbing as a result.