- Kimmo Rapatti's four-track EP for Skudge White is an impressive return to the spotlight for the once prolific Finnish producer. His slew of releases in the early- to mid-'90s, many via his Dum label, were fine examples of the big-room techno Jeff Mills was making at the time. Mono Junk is a versatile producer, though—a number of his best records are introspective explorations of other ideas from this fertile period, including dusty, Basic Channel-style textures and 303 workouts in the vein of Plastikman.
As such, Rapatti's Skudge White debut is a record with lots of satisfying tangents. "Electric Chair" lays a thin mist of white noise over brittle EBM drums and jangling shakers, while a taut 303 loop keeps the groove bubbling. "Härinähouse" finds Rapatti again reining in his explosive side, layering fragile synths over rolling drums that could crack concrete. Rapatti also employs this contrast on "Yhteys" by staggering its booming kicks behind a jumble of luminous synth notes. While much of the EP fizzes and simmers, "Jupiter Acid" is where Rapatti lets go. Sounding like a cross between an air raid siren and an accelerating F1 car for the first 90 seconds or so, "Jupiter Acid" dares you to find it annoying. Persist beyond the two-minute mark and you'll find the mood changes dramatically: stabs of acid come out of nowhere, splashing wildly amid the track's whipping handclaps and gurgling sub-bass.
TracklistA1 Electric Chair
A2 Yhteys
B1 Jupiter Acid
B2 Härinähouse