Don’t call it a comeback: Philadelphia techno legend and 611 Records founder Nigel Richards drops three tracks of abstract late night warehouse music with his debut release on Thoughtless. The title track works a chugging low-end and insistent percussion which combine to propel it through a vortex of intergalactic analog textures. Taking time out from his busy release schedule for Foundsound and Little Helpers, fellow Philadelphian Someone Else turns in a deeply hypnotic rework that brings reverberant chimes to the foreground atop a bass line that refuses to quit – while Toronto artists Co-Op turn in their first remix for the label by stripping ‘Bangagong’ down to a darkly minimalist rework built on a solid foundation of bouncing bass and detuned percussion. ‘Deeeep’ sees Mr. Richards exploring further regions of uncharted space by crafting a sleek techno vessel out of thick bass slabs and quicksilver high-hats, pushing forward as all manner of nebula and supernova stream past at light speed. Closing with an emphasis on his roots, ‘Air In The Sails’ is a fearless black hole journey, warbling drones pulling us forward as intermittent subsonic throbs signal the impending event horizon. One of the most influential names of East Coast techno is back with a vengeance – fasten your space suit for zero-gravity fun…

Photograph by Alexander Synaptic

Support – thank you for the music! – LUCIANO, Cadenza

Someone Else mix for me – thank you! – PACO OSUNA, Mindshake

All strong, will spin – thanks guys! – SLAM, Soma

Support – Someone Else remix! – STEPHAN BODZIN, Herzblut

Support! – MONIKA KRUSE, Terminal M

All good… thanks!! – DANNY TENAGLIA, NYC

Excellent techno. – NICK WARREN, Hope

I love the whole release… huge fan of Nigel. Respect!!!!! – ANDREW GRANT, DC-10

I’m a long time fan of Nigel Richards… will try! – RENNIE FOSTER, Rebirth

Tough, crispy little jackers…top marks! – DEEPCHILD, Affin

Someone Else finesses it just right. I’m feeling the Deeeep one too. – CHRIS FORTIER, Fade

Great to see Nigel back in the studio! Deeeeep is right up my alley, with it’s creepy tones and dark vibe – will be haunting people with this at a seedy NYC after-hours soon. – MIKE BRYANT, Intrinsic Design

Someone Else remix is sounding phatt!!! – SIGNAL DELUXE, Blaq