STERAC – Different Strokes on Mote-Evolver

Released on: Mote-Evolver
Release date: 18-05-2015
Cat. nr.: Mote042
Listen on Soundcloud
Buy on Juno / Decks / Hard Wax

TRACKLIST
1. Stroke 1
2. Stroke 2
3. Stroke 3
4. Stroke 4

Having both been on the scene for over twenty years, Mote Evolver’s founder Luke Slater and Dutch producer Steve Rachmad are considered veterans of the techno scene – both outlasting the genre’s various dips and flourishes in popularity. This considered, Rachmad’s debut on Mote Evolver seems all the more highly anticipated. Operating under his Sterac guise, Rachmad’s inaugural contribution to the label comes in the form of four hypnotic, rolling drum-machine experiments.

Rachmad’s formula across the EP is a spartan, uncluttered one. Even the track titles (Stroke 1 – 4) suggest he has taken some pains not to complicate proceedings unnecessarily, instead letting the music stand for itself. In the wrong hands the use of Roland 808’s can feel like a tired cliché when it comes to techno, yet Rachmad’s manipulation of the tool is nothing short of masterful. There is a buoyancy to his thudding rhythms, filtered hats shuffling effortlessly above raw 4/4 pulses. This trait is defined right from the offset – ‘Stroke 1’ marching forward steady and resolute. As with the rest of the release, the track has an abstract quality to it – the elements are processed heavily; filters and stereo-delays a common feature.

Across ‘Stroke 2’ even the synths used feel hazy and out of focus, jutting forward between Rachmad’s stuttered rhythms. This and ‘Stroke 3’ both have a celestial space-age feel, like a satellite being gracefully travelling across the orbit. The EPs closer on the other hand, ‘Stroke 4’, is incontestably rooted to the dancefloor. Devoid of melody, the track is a frantic percussive workout, jagged claps and ticks jutting out between Rachmad’s booming low-end.

As a whole, the EP maintains a perfect balance between holding a consistent theme, whilst still offering plenty of twists and turns along the trip. It is perhaps little wonder Rachmad’s Sterac project has been garnering much acclaim in recent years – this EP in particular revealing a focus and clarity that only comes with years of experience.

ARTIST FEEDBACK
Ancient Method: ‘Stroke 1’ is a sweet surprise!
Audio Injection / Truncate: Solid EP! Will play thanks!
Ben Sims: Strong EP. Very playable indeed. ‘Stroke 4’ is my fave, classy beats workout. Thanks!
Blue Hour: Great EP, thanks, will play.
Boddika: Mote-Evolver = No Brainer.
Darko Esser / Tripeo: Brilliant funky minimalism!!
Dave Clarke: ‘Stroke 2’ is evil & growly, lovely.
Developer: Dope! Will play thanks!
Dimi Angelis: Deepness!! Like the EP, A1 and B2 favo.
Donor: Great EP! Will play them all.
Dustin Zahn: Great EP! It’s hard to pick a favorite. I wouldn’t expect any less from a Rachmad EP on a Luke Slater label!!
DVS1: Nice! All of them are solid.
Edit Select:Love the sleazy groove of ‘Stroke 2’ / support.
Efdemin: ‘Stroke 4’ is nice!
Eric Cloutier: Steve is and always has been one of the best ever, but this is some next level Sterac here. The entire thing is such a massive psychedelic-yet-grooving trip I just want to listen to all the tracks for days.
Etapp Kyle: Great strokes here by Steve! Number two is mine. Thanks!
Exium: Good stuff, thanks.
Henning Baer: Dope 808 tunes! ‘Stroke 3’ + ‘Stroke 4’ for me…
Joel Mull: I especially like ‘Stroke 2’ with the Acidic Synth pattern doing just the right thing for me. Funky yet twisted. Also ‘Stroke 4’ is going to be useful to break it down and jam it in the mix. Thank you for the Music. P.S Also please email me your promo emails. So I can send music from our New Label Parabel Music.:) Be safe.
Kristian (Âme): Great!
Marcel Fengler: Killer tunes! Full support! Thanks.
Markus Suckut: All 4 tracks from Steve are good as hell. Will play them for a long time.
Monoloc: Great work.
Norman Nodge: Sounds like tracks to work with. Thanks!
Objekt: ‘Stroke 3’ & ‘Stroke 4’ for me 🙂
Orde Meikle (Slam): Fucking fantastic – perfect – thanks.
Pär Grindvik: Beauty!! Can’t wait to play these! Thanks.
Pfirter: Sterac on Mote-Evolver, thats great! Loving ‘Stroke 1’ and ‘Stroke 4’, thanks.
Reeko: Thanks. I like ‘Stroke 3’ and ‘Stroke 4’.
Ryan Elliott: Sterac is killing it!
Sandrien: Love the bouncy groove on ‘Stroke 2’!
Shifted: Totally killer. Can’t wait to play these. Reductionism masterclass.
Stacey Pullen: Cool, will try, thanks.
Svreca: New Sterac is always inspiring. This one will require deep listening and learning. Full support
Tom Dicicco: Killer EP, hard to pick a favourite here but ‘Stroke 3’ just takes it!
Tommy Four Seven: Dope release, particulary ‘Stroke 2’ and ‘Stroke 3’, thanks.
Zadig: Very nice tracks here. ‘Stroke 2’ and ‘Stroke 4’ are my fav. Thanks
Ø [Phase]: Long time supporter of both Mote and Sterac. Thanks for these.

REVIEWS
– Data Transmission
– Faze (German)
– Gourou Musical (French)
– Mixside (Spanish)
– Parkett (Italian)
– Sentire Ascoltari (Italian)
– Soundbound (Italian)
– The Electric Underground
– The Ransom Note