Band: Detritus

Album: Thresholds EP

Album Year: 2006

Label:  Ad Noiseam

Genre(s): Breakcore, Ambient

Website: www.endogenous.co.uk

Tracklist:

So I bought this album a while back under the impression that it was a full length and I was getting a steal by only playing 7 bucks or whatever it was. Well it turns out that in fact it is only a 4 track EP clocking in at 21 minutes in length. At first I was kind of pissed at my seemingly getting jipped, so I sort of put the album aside and never gave it the time of day. Anyway, after a while I decided to be fair and give it a listen and realized that maybe I hadn’t gotten such a bad deal after all.

Thresholds is a lighter, more “chill” Detritus than he was on Endogenous (the only other Detritus I have to compare it to). Thresholds still retains the ambient nature common to a Detritus record, but this time around he relies heavily on slow breakbeats coupled with light and atmospheric pads. These elements seem to mesh rather well on the album, and the production is such that it only further enhances these atmospheres. It succeeds in being extremely mellow yet forward-moving at all times. The atmosphere on this EP reminds me somewhat of LTJ Bukem on his mix Logical Progression; Thresholds has that same sort of chill and somewhat spacey drum and bass feel to it though Thresholds seems to be more of a terrestrial experience, although it is hard to put in to words exactly how. I guess one such example of this would be the way the piano in U(S) is used.

In my experience this album works best as background music. This isn’t to say that it is interesting or dynamic enough to warrant complete attention, but I usually just find myself wanting to throw it on as background music for when I am working on another more involving task. There is a lot going on in Thresholds; as in the typical Detritus track. There are a number of layers and sections and sounds used in every track and I think it can be a great record to actively listen to. Even though it is only an EP I don’t think I have ever once listened to it only once through. I usually put the record on loop and let it play through two or three times. I’m not sure what it is, but the songs just don’t get old even though you’ve just heard them twice or perhaps thrice.

If you’re looking for some chill and mellow drum and bass then you should absolutely check out Thresholds.