Some journeys in electronic music feel predestined, a magnetic pull from youth to maturity, from listener to creator. Such is the arc of Scott Robinson, whose Everyone EP marks a triumphant full-circle moment, landing on Colin Dale’s seminal Abstrakt Dance imprint – a label that first inspired him back in the pirate radio heyday of the late ’80s.
From the opening moments of the title track, ‘Everyone One’, it’s clear Robinson isn’t here to simply pay homage – he’s here to move bodies and spirits. Deep, pulsing Detroit textures drive a bouncy bassline, while ghostly electro keys ricochet across a bed of punchy, propulsive beats. Tension builds, pressure rises, and when it breaks into its rolling, eerie bassline charged by restless hi-hats, the dance floor will no longer be standing still – it’s will be surging.
‘The Alternative’ strips things back for a house-inflected, groove-heavy affair. Here, Robinson toys with the interplay between lightness and depth – jaunty keys lift the rhythm while the sample ‘What’s the alternative…’ (generated by a machine, of course) injects a subtle, playful commentary on human vs. machine soulfulness. It’s a nod to dance music’s endless questioning of its own identity – and a track that demands movement without ever raising its voice.
The standout moment comes with ‘Everything And Nothing’, a brooding slice of dubby techno magic. Thick with urban atmosphere, retro synth lines snake and shimmer through the murk, while intricate hi-hats slice open pockets of space. It’s both a love letter to classic textures and a statement of intent, Robinson understands the past, but breathes new life into it.
Closing the journey is ‘Still Human’, a masterclass in Detroit-influenced techno futurism. Energetic yet reflective, its taut beats and cosmic sonics conjure cityscapes speeding by at night, illuminated by neon dreams. The whispered sample – ‘Just relax, it’s a journey, there’s no destination…’ encapsulates the spirit of Robinson’s work: techno not as a place you arrive at, but as an endless evolution.
Behind this stellar EP is a lifetime of immersion and dedication. From early experiments with hip hop beats and primitive machines during England’s acid house explosion, through to collaborations with UK techno pioneers like Russ Gabriel and free party legends like the Liberators, Robinson has carved out a path rich in authenticity. His Ugly Funk club nights cemented his role as a champion of the leftfield and uncompromising, while releases on labels like Cluster, UKR, and appearances on revered compilations like Touched 2 have built an enviable underground legacy.
With more releases on the horizon, including the Corrupt Sounds EP on UKR and Meraki EP on Acidworks, 2025 looks set to be a banner year for Robinson. But with Everyone EP, he’s already delivered a work that feels timeless, techno rooted in history, but reaching fearlessly into the future.
Martin Madigan