Album Review: Scan 7 – Dark Territory

Patience is a virtue well-rewarded in techno; finding the right groove to build on then holding your nerve long enough to pay off the wait at the optimum moment is a much more skillful endeavour than it would seem for such a minimalistic style. And few display this talent better than Detroit originals Scan 7.

Part of the hallowed Underground Resistance family, Scan 7 first broke out in the mid-90s with a series of jacking machine funk 12”s that showcased their savvy for self-control – a faculty they have demonstrated in releases year-on-year since.

Highlighting this continuous font of vitality, Tresor records has returned to the source and is proud to announce the reissue of Scan 7’s debut LP, Dark Territory.

First unleashed on the label in 1996, the album has been remastered from the original DATs by Mike Grinser, augmenting already powerful tracks such as the snake-like, teasing “Unusual Channel” (mixed by the master Blake Baxter), and the harder-edged “VII” resulting in music that will, without doubt, provoke an enhanced response when the pressure is finally released.

Check Out: ‘Dark Universe‘ from the album.

Repressed on vinyl with (slightly) updated artwork, these tracks still sound like a blueprint for the future, testament to the prescience and assurance Scan 7’s leader, Trackmaster Lou, clearly had when writing “I hope you enjoy my records in the phuture to come” in the sleeve notes nearly 30 years ago.

Verdict: A solid Reissue from ’96 , especially for those of us who missed out first time round. Kickin old skool Detroit Techno with that awesome early raw sound. Things get nice and heavy as the tracks build in that beautifully minimalist style that relies on an ability (and skill) to make every element sit perfectly in the arrangement. Layers of creativity throughout in this opening chapter, which was to be the beginning of a mesmerising body of work from the mysterious Detroit underground collective, known only as ‘Scan 7‘.

Remastered & vinyl recut. The album is available digitally for the first time.

Tracklisting:

01/A1 Planet Energy
02/A2 Black Highway (Mixed by Blake Baxter)
03/B1 Dark Universe
04/B2 Unusual Channel (Mixed by Blake Baxter)
05/C1 Beyond Sound
06/C2 Dark Corridor
07/D1 VII
08/D2 Dark Territory

OUT NOW: @ https://tresorberlin.bandcamp.com/album/dark-territory

15.10.2024 Digital Single 1 release: Planet Energy / 01.11.2024 Digital Single 2 release: Dark Universe / 15.11.2024 Digital Single 3 release: Black Highway