Del Olmo presents Materials: review of the new techno release

With Materials, Del Olmo presents a new techno release that finds its identity in the exploration of textures, musicality, spaces, and different ways of building groove within electronic music. Throughout the five tracks of the EP, influences of groove techno, dub techno, and certain sci-fi atmospheres appear, but always maintaining a consistent identity from start to finish.

Neuron

The start of the EP breaks quite a bit from the traditional idea of a 4x4 techno track. "Neuron" is closer to a break, although it retains all the power that any techno lover expects to find. The kick hits hard, feels upfront, and has that physical sensation in the chest.

What stands out the most are the melodies. They don't seem to be placed just for the sake of it, nor do they appear throughout the entire track. They come in at specific moments and generate very interesting atmosphere shifts. In fact, something happens that is not usually so common: the tension is felt more when the melodies disappear, while when they return, they generate a certain sense of calm. There is also a very good work of panning and depth, with sounds appearing in front of and behind the listener in a very natural way. Excellent.

Cobalt

With "Cobalt" comes the first more traditional 4x4 techno track of the EP. From the beginning, many sounds that evoke metallic or even glassy materials are perceived. Most of the secondary percussions and atmospheric elements have this character, something that makes it clear to me that this is where the inspiration behind the name Materials comes from.

The groove of the bassline is very well achieved and keeps the track constantly moving forward. It doesn't seem to look to surprise with big changes, but rather to function as a solid and clean "tool" for the dancefloor. It is definitely one of those tracks you could easily listen to in a club.

Zinc

"Zinc" is probably the track where the most influences can be felt coexisting at the same time. There is groove typical of the most dancefloor-oriented techno, background sounds appear that could easily come from a sci-fi style track, some chords with a certain dub influence, and a fairly minimalist bass that lets all those elements breathe.

It is a functional track for the dancefloor, just like "Cobalt", but I feel it has a very particular personality precisely because of that mix of references. Everything coexists in a fairly natural way and ends up building something of its own.

Iron

Personally, "Iron" is probably my favorite of the more club-oriented tracks. From the start, it transmits a very particular sensation, as if an iron giant were slowly approaching from a distance.

The groove is heavy, minimalist, and very effective. It is one of those tracks that automatically generate the classic bass face. Once again, spatial movements and panning between front and back appear, which had already caught my attention in the previous tracks. Everything is where it needs to be and nothing seems to be extra.

Breather

The EP closure arrives with "Breather", and honestly, it has one of the best intros of the entire release. From the very first moment, it sets the bar very high.

The melodies at the beginning are truly spectacular and transmit several sensations at the same time. Later on, chords appear that are highly reminiscent of dub techno, reinforcing an influence that had already been hinted at elsewhere in the EP.

When the kick finally comes in, the track transforms into a very emotional 4x4 techno. It maintains a constant tension, but at the same time, it transmits calm. It is a combination that is quite difficult to achieve and probably why it has such a marked personality. There is something very particular in the soul of this song that makes it feel special.

Conclusion

What I liked most about Materials is that it feels like a complete body of work and not simply a collection of loose tracks. There are elements that appear throughout the entire EP—metallic sounds, spatial work, certain dub influences, and some sci-fi details—that make everything make sense within the same idea.

Del Olmo manages to maintain a very interesting balance between functional tracks for the dancefloor and moments where musicality takes center stage. For those who closely follow electronic music and enjoy discovering new techno releases, Materials is a work that deserves attention. An EP with its own identity, very good sound design, and several details that are best discovered with each new listen.