Artist: Patrick Chardronnet
Title: Eve By Night EP
Label: Connaisseur Recordings
Catalog #: CNS036
Genre: Techno
Release Date: June 30, 2010
Rating: 6.5
After a storied career releasing on some of the world’s most prominent labels, Patrick Chardronnet returns to Connaisseur Recordings with the follow-up to his international hit, “Eve By Day”, with the Eve By Night EP. Known for creating deeply entrenched pockets of emotional resonance, Chardronnet takes care of business like he always has, but this EP could have used some more unpredictable chaos.
The A-side, “Boggler”, starts with a function-before-fashion rhythm, the percussion is used exclusively as a vehicle for the swelling crescendo that approaches. Chardronnet constructs a trailing arpeggio as a tool of misdirection. The real splendor occurs when the Gregorian nuances build up “Boggler” into an emotionally distraught beast, complete with bass for blood and hi-hat for teeth. Despite the poignant nature of “Boggler”, its conventions are somewhat limited. The breaks, while pleasing, are placed precisely where you would expect them to be and while I never truly tire of a high frequency percussion drop, after a while it can be quite laborious regardless.
“Eve By Night” enters the fray with a deceivingly light-handed approach, but the ongoing pound of the bass ushers in a new phase of swaying strings that brings the house down. Chardronnet piles on a mountain of clever tones and tinges to keep it lively and his spot-on transposition of various elements makes for a compelling listen. The way Chardronnet bends his productions into submission gives “Eve By Night” a truly domineering feeling or could it be the frequently employed ominous strings? In either case, while “Eve By Night” is my choice on the EP, it still suffers from the same problems that plagued the A-side, a somewhat unimaginative structure that uses the same aesthetic choices. It’s like a double whammy that, while extremely gripping and captivating, does not shine among the myriad of releases out there.
Regardless of this EP’s expansive nature and its grandiose tension, Chardronnet relies too heavily on methods tried and true, methods that have gotten him this far, but methods that are only conducive to future record crate obscurity. Despite these shortcomings, there are some positives in that these are functional tracks that could fit nicely within some expertly crafted peak moments. Seeing the dumbfounded look on someone completely lost in the moment as the break from “Eve By Night” drops would be priceless, just be sure that you bring a little more variety to warrant it.
-Andrew Reilly
Tracks:
A) Boggler
B) Eve By Night
Strong album (love the
We need more education out
thanks for the wonderful
Absolutly bangin mix phil
Great Mix... Love hearing
VERY NICE