Consumed

by Jason BirchmeierAfter achieving global fame in the techno world with his previous albums, intense live performances, and legendary Detroit parties, Richie Hawtin's first full-length Plastikman release in years surprised many listeners with his move toward the depths of minimal ambience. In form and structure, the music on Consumed doesn't deviate much from Hawtin's previous Plastikman album, Musik. What differs are the sounds and technique applied to these forms and structures. Nearly every sound on Consumed registers in the lowest bass frequencies, except for the barely audible synths hovering, shadow-like, far behind the wall-shaking basslines. The album retains the ability to submerge listeners with its continuity, motifs, and overall tone, but never claims to be dance music. One track slowly merges with the next while the emotional tone instilled by Hawtin never wavers from consuming, contemplative alienation. The beginning two tracks ("Contained" and "Consume") and the concluding two ("Inside" and "Consumed") demand notice with their epic scope and emotional radiation. Sandwiched between these heavy tracks rest some shorter variations of the deep, minimal bass executions of German artists such as Maurizio and the Chain Reaction camp. Consumed's sedate approach disappointed some longtime Hawtin fanatics, but most respected the producer's decision to move forward and explore new, deeper terrain.