Having seen Marco Carola pair up with Adam Beyer in a top fight duet at Orbit earlier this year, I find myself in HMV flicking through the racks and come across Corola's 'Open System' LP. I've been consistenetly impressed with Carola's mixing tallent's, his ability to eak out the very best from his material is second only to a very select few. Now it's time to find out if he can cut it in the studio...

If it's loop driven Italian techno you're after then read on, if not then move on there's nothing for you here... wait... hang on, mayby there is.

Released in 2001, Carola takes a steady measured aproach to this his second album on his own label Zenit. Never rushed or overly urgent, the album gradualy builds across the first few tracks giving the listener space to tune into the Carola sound and ease into the techno vibe. Introspective is a particular early highlight, bringing together expressive synths with an industrial theme, setting the tone for the album nicely.

Of the Future pitches it's tent firmly at the electro end of the techno spectrum. Even though some of the the earlier tracks haven't shyed away from an electro style, this track is perhaps surprising on a first listen. It's a real grower and raises the profile of the electro elements throughout the album.

Playboy, marks the start of the club focused tracks which are the thrust of the second half of the album. The drums take up a more uniform tempo, the loops provide the focus and the people begin to move! Playboy hits all the right buttons, keeping a steady tribal rhythm throughout but breaking ocassionally to reveal the track's true nature. Get Down neatly picks up the batton and continues to drive the, by now, very club friendly vibe.

Ascent has 'club hit' written all over it and not without good reason. Nothing is left in the wake of this track. Without being overbearing Corola manages to grab all of your attention and keep you focused. Never turning the gas down from high this one's sure to rock many a dancefloor.

The next few tracks remain in the club, whilst generally good there's nothing to particularly recommend and it's perhaps at this stage that the album looses some of its early promise. It's not that there's anything wrong with any of these tracks, I'm sure they'll slip into many a fine mix, it's just there's nothing that stands out from the background.

Open Source marks the beginning of the end and its here Carola seems to get to grips with things again. The sound of Open Source isn't a million miles away from Beyer and it manages to be both intense and thoughtful. Avalance wraps up the album excelently, brutal minimalism gives way to a crashing funky upbeat rhythm and Carola blends the two together in perfect harmony.

Overall Carola has created an excellent, if imperfect, album, more than living up to my expectations and in some areas surprising me with it's broad (for a techno album) style. Carola allows his vision to permeate throughout the album, showing himself both at his most full-on and also a more thoughful and reflective side. Perhaps promising more that it delivers it still comes highly recommeded, although, on reflection, probably only if you like looped techno. :)

/g\

Track Listing:
1 - Highview
2 - State of Mind
3 - Introspective
4 - Detached
5 - Open Systems
6 - Of the Future
7 - Playboy
8 - Get Down
9 - Ascent
10 - Body Dancer
11 - Effective
12 - Solare
13 - Open Source
14 - Avalanche