Artist: Ellen Allien Album: Dust

Year: 2010
Duration: 0:0-1

A Closer Look: Dust by Ellen Allien

Ellen Allien, a Berlin-based DJ, producer, and record label head, has recently released her eighth studio album entitled Dust. Her music style lies in the techno and house music genre, which is known for its synthetic rhythms and heavy basslines. This album is Allien's first release since her 2017 album “Nost”, and her fans were excited to hear what she had in store with Dust. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at Dust, examine Ellen Allien's brief history, and give our critical review of the album.

Allien is no stranger to the techno and house music scene, and she has shown time and time again her skillset in electronic music production. However, Dust is a slight departure from her usual sound. The album showcases a more atmospheric groove to her music than her usual robotic and mechanical rhythm. From the opening track “Love Distortion” to the last track “Electrify,” the album takes listeners on a sonic journey through Allien's diverse and fresh take on techno music.

One of the standout tracks on the album is “Stimulation,” which sets a mesmerizing sonic tone with its repetitive melody, and it slowly builds up into a crescendo with the addition of hypnotic synths. The track features a catchy vocal loop, which listeners can get lost in. Another track worth mentioning is “Free Society”; it is a stripped-down techno track that showcases Allien's pure musicality, and the minimalistic and straightforward nature of the track highlights the beauty in simplicity.

The most innovative parts of Dust are the moments where Allien mixes her atmospheric and clean techno sound with samples of nature sounds and vocal loops. It gives the album an ethereal vibe, which sets it apart from her previous work. “MDMA” is a perfect example of this where Allien samples the sound of waves crashing, evoking the feeling of calm and tranquility.

However, the album is not perfect. There are moments in some of the tracks where the beats feel too predictable, and they don't build up into anything exciting. While Allien's minimalistic approach works in some tracks, there are moments where it feels too sparse and unfinished.

Overall, Dust is a welcome addition to Ellen Allien's musical journey. It showcases her innovations in rhythm and her ability to craft atmospheres to fit her music. It is a worthy addition to the techno and house music genre, and it will satisfy fans of the genre. While the album doesn't hit all the notes perfectly, the moments where it shines more than make up for its weaknesses. If you're in the mood for some fresh techno music with an ethereal twist, Ellen Allien's Dust is worth listening to.