Restructured Layers

Martinez is also known as Martin Swanstein, the figurehead behind the Out of Orbit imprint, which was an early champion of such microhouse/minimal techno producers as Trentemøller, Robert Babicz, and Reynold. With this 76-minute CD, Martinez takes bits and pieces of tracks from the entire Out of Orbit discography and, much like Richie Hawtin, reduces them down to mere blips, glitches, and four-bar rhythmic loops. Martinez skillfully layers them on top of one another using Ableton technology to have as many as eight tracks going at one time. And much like Hawtin's DE9 mixes, the process is sometimes more impressive than the result at points, with some elements just not meshing well with one another. But in a genre where the mantra "less is more" is repeated somewhat ironically over and over again like a broken record, sometimes maximizing minimalism leaves much to be desired. Having some of these tracks breathe a bit more would have definitely made for a stronger presentation, as many times a pleasant-sounding moment will disappear just as quickly as it emerges. But on the whole, it's an enjoyable mix and a reasonable introduction to a label that regrettably doesn't get as much acclaim as some of its vastly overrated contemporaries.