Review:
Steve Stoll has never played by the rule book. Spells in the army interpreting satellite imagery for the US army where he saw active service in the Gulf, and the job of percussionist for industrial label WaxTrax are not the usual techno credentials. Yet with his shaven head and frenetic intense outpouring of ideas Steve Stoll is every inch the techno svengali he is rapidly becoming. Born and raised in New York, the music of Stoll is a reflection of the city in which he grew up. With its penchant for disco culture and the recent leanings of artists from the five boroughs such as Joey Beltram and Damon Wild towards a hard edged minimal style, the cultural surrounds of New York have certainly shaped Stoll.

 

Previously recording under his own moniker for a number of labels including his own Proper Records, Stoll has recently handed over the exclusive rights to Nova Mute for the Stoll brand name. Recording his debut LP for the label in his home studio in New York, Stoll has not strayed from his trademark style of hard edged techno tracks aimed squarely at the dancefloor. Stoll has crafted a collection of tracks that subtly mutate from simple rhythm patterns into gigantic walls of polyrhythmic fury laced with enough funk to get a dancefloor of geriatrics breakdancing, yet it is the simplicity and economy of Stoll's efforts that amaze. Stoll is able to direct a track and create a sense of urgency with the minimal of fuss and effort. Forget the wall of sound when you can have as much effect with a single brick. Dance motherfucker, dance.