Moritz von Oswald Trio: Horizontal Structures

Label: Honest Jon's

Moritz von Oswald -- you haven't heard of him? Well, perhaps not; von Oswald is a megastar of '90s German minimal techno, when identity was clouded or just plain neglected as a routine course of action. But this guy has cut a swath: He handled percussion for '80s new-wave fixtures Palais Schaumburg before moving into electronic music and playing with SF fave Thomas Fehlmann; he later cofounded the essential Basic Channel label, still active, which held up the Continental end of the great Detroit/Berlin techno axis. His part in Maurizio and Rhythm & Sound records cements his status. Here on Horizontal Structures -- previous album: Vertical Ascent, of course -- his high-power-trio (which already includes Vladislav Delay) adds Paul St. Hilaire (heard vocally on many R&S sides as Tikiman) and double-bassist Marc Muellbauer, then unfurls four gloriously supple techno blends, organic tapestries that nod toward dub, jazz and that Motorik impulse; these pieces are rigorously structured but feel so airy and free. You really can't mix electronics and "human" instrumentation better than this. All four pieces shimmer; "Structure 3" is our favorite. Go deep, music-travelers.