Album Review: Marcel Dettman’s “Fabric 77”

Listening to one of Marcel Dettmann‘s sets is like listening to an opera. If that sounds way too dramatic for you or if you can’t see the connection, then you obviously were not listening. Few artists can achieve the kind of expansive variety that Dettmann commands across the lifespan of a set – from the most severe and stripped back techno to an unexpected funky, groovy meatiness, he has truly mastered the art of sonic storytelling.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/164993558″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Fabric 77 is his first CD mix since Conducted in 2011, and it is a beautiful example of Dettmann’s unique ear for music and his unparalleled style. Flawlessly executed, the 19-track compilation takes listeners from ambient chic to dark austerity to rich melodic. Opening up with Ryan James Ford’s booming atmospheric piece “Arthure Iccon,” Fabric 77 does a full 360 in terms of musical style. Unlike some past editions in the iconic Fabric series, Dettmann’s contribution does a fantastic job at staying fluid and engaging from start to finish. It does not confine itself or get caught in the rut many techno guys tend to find inescapable. Throughout the album, the Berghain resident strategically lays down mood changing records, like his introspective edit of Paperclip People’s “Country Boy Goes Dub” or Monobox’s tense and frenetic “Film” (reminiscent of the theme for a film noir), to break the monotony. In essence, he constantly shifts the direction of the album to make sure that the story continues to evolve.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/162434685″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/157111139″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

What is perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of Fabric 77 is its stylistic beauty. Despite traversing techno’s wonderfully diverse spectrum from one extreme to another through his track selection, Dettmann manages to maintain a distinguishing sound across the span of the album as a whole. The ability to convey a trademark even across other artists’ work is an abstract characteristic that defines a truly talented DJ, and it is a delicate art that Dettmann has proven himself adept at mastering. That said, a large part of Fabric 77 is comprised of unreleased demos submitted to Dettmann’s MDR label (15 out of 19 tracks, to be exact), which makes the album a great indication of where the heavyweight’s head is at both as a producer and as an A&R decision maker.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/162730613″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

In many ways, Fabric 77 serves as a comprehensive catalog of Dettmann’s musical ability, a track-by-track showcase of his versatility and his wide ranging talent as an artist. We’re giving this one a 5 out of 5 stars for its ingenuity and its texture, along with the sheer fact that it sounds absolutely stunning in the car as you’re driving home from the club at 5 a.m. ★★★★★

You can purchase Fabric 77 on iTunes or Beatport via the Fabric label. See below for the complete track list.

Fabric 77 Track List

1. Ryan James Ford – Arthure Iccon
2. The Persuader – Sun Position
3. Terence Fixmer – Inside Of Me
4. Marcel Dettmann – Apron (PAS The Rhythm Remix)
5. Answer Code Request – Transit 0.2
6. Dario Zenker – Nearlin
7. Monobox – Film
8. FBK – It’s Not The Point
9. Marcel Dettmann – Radar (Byetone Remix)
10. Rod – RSPCT
11. Paperclip People – Country Boy Goes Dub (Marcel Dettmann Remix)
12. Norman Nodge – BB 1.0
13. Francois X – Rising
14. Marcel Dettmann – Lightworks (Ø [Phase] Remix)
15. Lockertmatik – M_Lock 4
16. Wincent Kunth – Carlre
17. Joey Anderson – Repulsive (Marcel Dettmann Edit)
18. Marcelus – Flash
19. Vril – Torus XXXII