DJ Hidden — Directive

Directive is the forth album from this Netherlands based electrionca project, and I must say it’s one of more memorable yet creative electronic albums I’ve heard in sometime. The album mixes together elements of drum & bass, edgy cinematic beat-scapes, IDM, tuneful techno, peppering of none genre elements and razor shape production to create an album that managers to be both memorble & cleverly layered.

I’ll have to admit that in recent years I’ve not been the biggest follower/ fan of either drum & bass, or modern IDM scenes. I  play most of the  few releases from these genres that pass through M[m]’s HQ, and sadly more often than they leave me feeling more than a little under whelmed. But from time to time an album comes along that clearly stands out from the normal & fairly set clichés, and Directive is one such album- it grabbed from the first listen a month or so back, and I’m still regularly playing & enjoying it today.

The album takes in twelve tracks in all, and these offer up a varied, cleverly conceived selection of  work - with really no low points or clunkers.  Really it’s all down to the thought,  rewarding details, and twist ‘n’ turns DJ Hidden puts into each & every track here.  But on top of that he clearly  has keen ear for a great melodies, & creating shifting moods/ atmosphere with such ease. Sure you have the expected & often head spinning beat ‘n’ bass elements, but there’s always so much more to any one track here- be it either a rich synth line, a clever loop,  a carefully cut instrumental texture, or a sudden & often expected change of pace or tone.

So in summing this is one of my surprise highlights of 2015, and  it's certainly worthy of your time if you have even a passing interest in any form of electrionca that’s both memorable & creative.