Sherard Ingram is one of the quiet men of Detroit techno. It’s the same Urban Tribe who supplied the sublime ‘Covert Action’ to the ‘Equinox’ EP which emerged on Retroactive in 1990 [also featuring early outings from UR and Carl Craig]. Before that he appeared on Juan Atkins’ ‘NASA’ and since then has worked with Kirk DeGiorgio and done an artist album for Mo’ Wax. These days he’s better known as Drexciyan DJ Stingray and is commited to taking electro to alien places in the future. Sherard’s Rephlex debut isn’t easy, accessible or even electro as we know it. It’s atmopsheric, sparse and explores advanced electronic music in a fashion more akin to pioneers like Terry Riley. ‘Amino Acid Sequence’ even recalls NY’s groundbreaking sonic electro-terrorists Suicide in its speedy pulsing. Elsewhere, ‘T Cell’ evokes a spooky, Mingus-bass jazz feel while tracks like ‘RNA World’ and ‘Mass’ ride a skeletal drum ‘n’ bass groove. ‘Microwave Energies’ is austere and unsettling, while the racey single ‘Biohazard 17824’ tries to replicate the engine to Godzilla’s vibrator. Brave and new in an Arpanet fashion. Full marks to Rephlex for giving a great, modest talent a platform.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs