The Black Dog

Liber Dogma The Black Dog

The Black Dog are a legendary live act whose ability to destroy venues and wreck soundsystems is undeniable. They blur the boundaries between DJing and performance while possessing an excellent sense of where to take the crowd. Live, they represent purist techno, which is also utterly crowd pleasing. On record, tBd are famous for delivering subtlety, emotion, and intellectual richness, as well as great tunes, but never in their career have they managed to convey the sheer visceral impact of their performances as on Liber Dogma. This album contrasts with last year's extremely well-received ambient outings on Music For Real Airports and the Dadavistic Orkestra collaboration with members of the Psychick Warriors of Gaia. While none of the band's artistry and care has been lost, there is now a greater focus on a pure, and utterly exhilarating, vision of how techno can transform the dancefloor into a realm of complete pleasure. Presented as a seamless mix, Liber Dogma shifts expertly between biting, sensual electro (Death Ov The Black Sun), plangent electronics (Dark Wave Creeping, Eden 353, Feeder Rub Out), and also wave after wave of throbbing Dark Wave Techno. There is real continuity with the simply awesome funky techno of the accompanying singles on their own Dust Science label - together these releases comprise a mix-friendly triptych of the finest electronics currently available. Tracks such as Black Maria, Bird Siren, Single Light Focus and Silent Escape represent a renaissance in smart but hugely entertaining techno that offers a refreshing and eagerly anticipated alternative to anaemic synth washes or testosterone-crushed distortion. Liber Dogma is a satisfying and hugely enjoyable journey into sound. The Black Dog: "This album is about surrendering to hypnotic, physical music played loud in big, dark rooms. We always wanted to make an album that reflects the kind of set we play live, and that's what we've done with Liber Dogma. It's all about red lights, a smo