Roman Flügel – Happiness Is Happening – (Dial Records)
DMC World Magazine
It’s an interesting point to consider that it is hard to make good, quiet techno music. In some ways it feels like a complete contradiction saying that, because techno tends to be a form of dance music that gives you energy and momentum, but it is possible to make the join. Roman Flügel is a producer who does it brilliantly in his second long player, with some graceful pieces of music that perfectly complement more mechanical, driven sections. This is music of the small hours, where every slight noise and shift in atmosphere is magnified by ten. Flügel captures this in music of great subtlety, giving ‘Happiness Is Happening’ a natural ebb and flow, with quieter, tender moments (‘Friendship Song’ and ‘Your War Is Over’) on one side, and the slightly heavier efforts (‘Parade’ and ‘Wilkie’) on the other. ‘Occult Levitation’, meanwhile, falls between these, a brilliant burst of light that seems to signal the sunrise. The record is really well structured – no padding here – and subtly emotional, Flügel speaking with a voice that makes more of an impact with repeated listening. And that’s where you realise that a lot of the best techno has a heart beating at its centre, which can definitely be said for the music of Roman Flügel.
