- Resurrected from DAT, this is rich house and techno from the '90s Belgian underground.
- Belgian producers played an important and under-appreciated role in the development of European techno. During the late '80s, Belgium was the epicenter of New Beat, a proto-techno form that fused EBM with acid and served as a foundation for the growth of hardcore. By the '90s, the Belgian scene was best known for the hard, ravey sounds coming from Ghent's R&S Records, one of early techno's quintessential labels.
These tracks by Christophe "Deg" De Groote, produced in Belgium between 1989 and 1994, seem to stand apart from that lineage. Unearthed by Basic Moves, a small Brussels-based label, Deg's music as Circadian Rhythms has a bedroom-made introversion and depth that's out of step with its time and place of origin. The delicacy of Deg's production—like, say, the hazy synth tones that dance above looped percussion on "Morphing Chords"—seem a long way away from the stabs and hoovers associated with early '90s Belgian techno.
Maybe it's not that surprising that Deg's music was overlooked at the time. But listening today, the quality of the music is undeniable. The bold, spacious "Nocturnal Fly" might have been an underground anthem in a different context. "Sleeping Soul" wouldn't sound out of place on an Artificial Intelligence-era Warp release. Deg's gentle, moody take on techno makes his music nostalgic, as if directly appealing to the present day digger rather than the early '90s Belgian raver.
To borrow the insightful words of an RA commenter from last time we reviewed Deg's music: "It's fascinating that music that sounded so 'out of time' when it was made can sound so 'in time' over 20 years later." Basic Moves is one several contemporary labels investing time into unearthing '90s house and techno gems that slipped by unnoticed. Deg's music has the warmth, personality and intrigue to warrant exposure.
TracklistA1 Optima Dance
A2 Morphing Chords
B1 Nocturnal Fly
C1 Must Be
C2 Sleeping Soul
D1 Performing Crimes