Disconnected

Matthew Puffett, the producer behind Future Beat Alliance, is hardly a newcomer, having notched several 12" releases throughout the course of a decade. Perhaps that's part of why Disconnected sounds more like a third or fourth full-length, even though it's technically a debut. (An album called Hidden Emotion, slated for release on Puffett's Void label, apparently never made it past the test-pressing stage.) As a creator of warm, melodic techno — with roots firmly implanted in Detroit techno, both club-oriented and ambient-leaning — Puffett's talent is undeniably refined and assured. Tracks like "Sweet," "Almost Human," and "Numerical Noise" stand up to anything from Aril Brikha or even Kirk Degiorgio's As One, with equal emphasis on vaporous textures and slowly unfolding melodies. The beat programming is straightforward without being all that predictable, with a natural thrust that avoids trickiness for trickiness' sake. There are occasions when some tracks veer toward being too smooth and syrupy, with little in the way of impact, but nothing here is truly filler. Besides, one of Puffett's best attributes is that he makes tracks that reveal new nuances with each passing listen. Followers of the reliable Delsin label won't want to miss out. Like their best releases, Disconnected never loses sight of the future.