Alexander Kulikov's Radio Edit is a confident, fully realized statement from a producer who is putting his mark on the dub techno landscape as new producer. Following his exciting debut EP on Greyscale late in 2024, this full-length continues to build his reputation as someone who can balance contemplative listening while weaving atmosphere and rhythm into an elegant and captivating whole.
The opener 'Crue' starts the album with celestial textures and a deep, techy bassline with clean detail. Its crisp production is a gentle but purposeful introduction, signaling that this is an album meant to flow like a journey rather than a set of isolated tracks. 'Sus' follows with shimmering chord progressions that rise, slide and echo into a swelling, hypnotic groove. By the time 'Mel' arrives, Kulikov shifts into a hazier, sunrise-like space, showing how even shorter pieces can evoke wide-open emotional atmospheres with minimal but precise sound design.
The pairing of 'Gauss' and 'Gauss 2' forms a turning point: the first dives deeper, slowly unveiling melodic hints, while the second has a whimsical interlude, giving listeners a brief pause before re-entering denser sonic terrain. 'More Jazz' lives up to its name with a looser, rolling bassline and airy chords that swirl in a star-lit haze, adding a sophisticated lightness to the record.
Later, 'Modl' picks up the tempo with a more melodic immediacy, bridging the line between playful IDM and reflective techno. 'Remind' leans into ambient tenderness, unfolding gracefully into one of the most emotionally moments of the album. The final stretch of 'Basic Session 1' and 'Basic Session 2' introduces island-tinged percussion and dub-centric rhythms, expanding the palette even further. Closing track 'Post Modular' brings everything full circle with a deep techno gem that still weaves in a jazzy and house touch stamping the album with a diversity rarely heard in a long player in the genre.
What makes Radio Edit stand out is not just Kulikov's technical polish but the emotional balance he sustains throughout. It's an album equally suited to an early-night warmup, a home listening session, or the tail end of a journey where subtlety matters more than peaks. Carefully structured yet never stiff, Radio Edit shows Kulikov is a producer who thrives on crafting music that is deeply rewarding.
The opener 'Crue' starts the album with celestial textures and a deep, techy bassline with clean detail. Its crisp production is a gentle but purposeful introduction, signaling that this is an album meant to flow like a journey rather than a set of isolated tracks. 'Sus' follows with shimmering chord progressions that rise, slide and echo into a swelling, hypnotic groove. By the time 'Mel' arrives, Kulikov shifts into a hazier, sunrise-like space, showing how even shorter pieces can evoke wide-open emotional atmospheres with minimal but precise sound design.
The pairing of 'Gauss' and 'Gauss 2' forms a turning point: the first dives deeper, slowly unveiling melodic hints, while the second has a whimsical interlude, giving listeners a brief pause before re-entering denser sonic terrain. 'More Jazz' lives up to its name with a looser, rolling bassline and airy chords that swirl in a star-lit haze, adding a sophisticated lightness to the record.
Later, 'Modl' picks up the tempo with a more melodic immediacy, bridging the line between playful IDM and reflective techno. 'Remind' leans into ambient tenderness, unfolding gracefully into one of the most emotionally moments of the album. The final stretch of 'Basic Session 1' and 'Basic Session 2' introduces island-tinged percussion and dub-centric rhythms, expanding the palette even further. Closing track 'Post Modular' brings everything full circle with a deep techno gem that still weaves in a jazzy and house touch stamping the album with a diversity rarely heard in a long player in the genre.
What makes Radio Edit stand out is not just Kulikov's technical polish but the emotional balance he sustains throughout. It's an album equally suited to an early-night warmup, a home listening session, or the tail end of a journey where subtlety matters more than peaks. Carefully structured yet never stiff, Radio Edit shows Kulikov is a producer who thrives on crafting music that is deeply rewarding.
More from GREYSCALE
Recommended For You
