VAPOUR by PATRICE BAUMEL

“Vapour” is the debut album of producer and Trouw (Amsterdam) resident DJ Patrice Bäumel, known for previous releases on Get Physical, Trapez & !K7The album steers clear of many clichés surrounding artist albums done by dj's in this day and age. Instead of delivering a collection of dancefloor singles or getting lost in awkward style experiments, Bäumel chooses a homogenic approach worthy of the album format. All tracks seemlessly flow into each other to form a meandering 54 minute trip. In spirit, “Vapour” is 100% techno, a continuous act of finding balance between contrasting elements of man vs machine. Abstract, precise rhythms and soundscapes form a dark, almost otherworldy backdrop to perfectly measured emotional outbursts. “Vapour” does not dictate what the listener is supposed to feel at any given moment but is a stimulant to his imagination, leaving plenty of room to “fill in the gaps”. Bäumel's maiden album threads a fine line between club and living room. Like a well-designed podcast, “Vapour” works in many life situations. It is a cleverly crafted and timeless piece of listening techno, providing the kind of fluidity that works wonderfully on a car stereo, your iPod or in afterhour situations, with enough horsepower under its hood to hold its own on the dancefloor.