DjRUM - 'Struktur' - 2010s Retrospective

In the last 100 days before 2020, I'll be counting down by doing a retrospective of some of the classic releases/EPs of this decade, and maybe a few lesser known gems. Expect broken beats, some leftfield electronics and the odd cheesy banger :) 

(2016, Ilian Tape)

Putting the debate around 'best' aside for a second, it’s hard to deny that Munich’s Ilian tape has created one of the most instantly recognisable techno sounds of recent years. Hazy breakbeats and analogue pads define music that is heavy and club-ready, but introspective and even ambient at times. Over the last few years, this has largely been driven by a few specific artists – the Zenker Brothers, Stenny, Andrea, and wunderkid Skee Mask. They have, however, enlisted other producers on the label to great effect – one standout example is Struktur, from UK broken-beat savant DjRUM (two of the songs here are by 'Struction', assumed to be an alias of his).

DjRUM is no stranger to taking a maximalist approach, but even compared to most songs in his back catalogue, the grandiose ‘Untitled 9’ is almost overflowing with intricacy. And yet, despite its length and meandering structure, it still adds up to a cohesive whole – if anything, more so than some of his shorter or most direct songs. Both the artist and label in question specialise in music that combines complexity and ambience – 'Untitled 9', complete with mysterious vocal samples, strings and an extended outro, nails it better than almost anything else they've put out. As much as I can imagine it destroying a broken beat set, it's a very intimate song that ebbs, flows and eventually disintegrates in a way that needs to be heard from start to finish.

‘Don’t Blame’ turns things down a notch, a more straightforward (by DjRUM’s standards) broken techno track comprised of hypnotic synths and stepping, UK influenced drums. Closer ‘Struktur’ is the closest thing to an ambient track here, but in some respects, it’s far from it. The synths undulate with almost painful suspense; the bass punctuates with mid-range presence; snares crack through the mist. It’s a quieter end to an EP that starts with a bang, but that’s exactly what makes Struktur work so well – even when it’s retreating into itself, it creates drama and retains attention. 

If 'Struction' is another producer altogether, apologies for giving DjRUM the credit for the excellent B-side. But I think we're all thinking the same thing?