Icons: Volume One

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First CD from Scottish label Emoticon is a collection of high points taken from their quietly impressive string of 12"s released over the last couple of years. Emoticon is an offshoot of the more dancefloor-oriented Headspace, and indeed "Icons" is that rare and wonderful thing, a techno record that sounds lovely played at low volume, the sound whirring and clicking out of your speakers and around your living room, noddingly hypnotic, the occasional swathe of enveloping bass creating just the slightest tremble beneath your feet, just enough to bother but not infuriate your neighbours, perhaps.

It's also fantastic walkman music, even played low, the soundtrack to underground train clanking over rusty tracks, watching cars speed along motorway ring roads, the occasional sweep of green peering through the concrete.

"Icons" flows particularly well when taken as a whole hour-long listen. Individual standouts however include Connective Zone's "Dude", steely synth lines playing off an agreeably thumping bass drum kick with lots of details panning between the speakers, Total Science's angular beats, orchestral synth stabs and weird vocal sample beaming in and out on "I Know" (reminding this listener of the great days of 808 State) and Russ Gabriel's "flip Down to Break" with its washes of sound over broken beats and wormy, squelching bass figures. Mark McLaren, Jeff Samuel and Otomi take a more fragmented approach, reminiscent of Plaid or other more recent Warp stuff. Future Beat Alliance wrap up with the vaguely menacing "FBA Theme", clouds of sound swirling behind and almost martial drum kick, fading out to leave a fine promise for things to come in 2003.