Ben Sims - I Wanna Go Back (Featuring Blake Baxter) by Drumcode published on 2011-10-14T15:01:37Z Having developed an impeccable reputation in the past twenty years since delving into the word of turntables and mixtapes at an early age, Sims can be called a genuine legend in the world of techno. As a producer he has remixed Jeff Mills, Chris Liebing, Adam Beyer and Kevin Saunderson as well as releasing on just about every seminal techno imprint there is. As an A&R he’s been at the helm of nine labels, including the highly influential Ingoma and KB Records inc, and continues to steward Theory and Hardgroove towards the boxes of the discerning fans. Most recently the London-based producer has seen his ‘Way Back Wednesday’ (with Tony Anderson), ‘Funk You’ and occasional disco radio shows garner huge support while ploughing further energy into the futurist techno club night “Machine’ alongside Kirk Degiorgio. It’s with Sims’ multitude of achievements and notoritey in mind that the knowledge that ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is his debut LP is somewhat unbelievable, but fact it is. After initially hooking up with Adam Beyer’s Drumcode imprint late in 2010 after a long standing friendship, the affable and dry witted Sims’ was persuaded to deliver an LP and the lengthy writing and selection process began. The result is 11 superb productions which showcase Ben’s talents, influences and perhaps most importantly, his vision of what techno can and should be. From the off ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ is a technicolour affair that refuses to sit too comfortably into one groove, preferring to pull the listener through a range of vibes that, while disparate, flow together perfectly. As the album moves, snippets of new vibes bleed through before developing into themes and this is one of the brilliant elements of ‘Smoke & Mirrors’. The rousing and prophetically titled ‘Riots in London’ opener leads us into a frenetic, dub-tinged and filter-driven aesthetic which is neatly carried on in ‘Descent’ but subtly augmented with almost-there soulful vocal samples. This nod to soulful elements is then carried on in the less pacey, house referencing ‘ The Snake’ which fuses stabbing keys to a skipping beat which is as much New York as it is Detroit, London or Berlin. As ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ develops, suprises like the out-and-out tech-funk of ‘Back To The Pod’ and the street party disco of ‘Can You Feel It?’ are hinted at but never lack surprise when dropped. The emphatic drive of the huge sounding ‘I Wanna Go Back’ featuring Blake Baxter takes things back to techno territory and does so with real purpose while darker edged tracks such as the lethal ‘Bullet’ and the late-night discordance of ‘The Afterparty’ ramp up the tension. The twilight sections of Sims’ debut are perfectly judged. The dubbed (and blissed) out title track lightens the mood before the slightly more aggressive but widescreen ‘The Calling’ trips proceedings out in anticipation of the closer, the Tyree Cooper vocalled and aptly titled ‘I Feel It Deep’ ‘Smoke & Mirrors’ has been more than worth the wait. It’s as balanced, entertaining, engaging and powerful as you’d expect from such an artist as Ben Sims and, complete with artwork from Alan Oldham and collaborations from Blake Baxter and Tyree Cooper, is essential stuff. Genre Techno Comment by FILIPPA FELICIA L 🖤 2021-05-17T21:56:04Z Comment by Jana 🌘 ❤❤❤❤ 2020-10-11T15:05:39Z Comment by André Sotelo fuck!! 2019-09-07T03:40:52Z Comment by Kev Guzman Camargo nice track 🎼🔊 2018-02-15T20:10:11Z Comment by N3URONMIND 10 % Ben, 20% Blake, 70% MAD NOISE-BLOW THE HORN (J.Perez/O Hernandez) stricktly rythm records.lol 2018-01-18T00:41:29Z Comment by packratt45 Sick beats! 2017-11-19T10:53:45Z Comment by ilputocapomaverick pone los pelos de gallina.este.tema la mejor mezcla ke se la.e escuchado ha.sido en la code 086 en fabrik increiblee calvorotaaas sigue asii k aces que.de gusto escuchar musica 2013-06-07T20:47:08Z Comment by Vap, Johnny Vap !!!!!!!!!!!! 2013-04-10T13:00:35Z Comment by user253199925 wapisimo !!! 2012-12-22T00:04:56Z Comment by Michael Eric What are the odds they'll play this in Ibiza this 2012 summer? 100% 2012-02-07T17:54:49Z Comment by Marcos Otero really good!!! 2012-01-26T19:13:36Z Comment by DJ Wank Great track mr. Sims =) 2012-01-07T16:18:16Z Comment by schellabel like 2011-11-13T19:38:42Z Comment by Diegy good job! great track!! 2011-11-08T21:44:54Z Comment by Derren Étienne i love this track, probably my favourite from the album 2011-10-30T20:09:10Z Comment by Marina Wants Cool track !.. Yesss, I like it 2011-10-27T22:49:57Z Comment by Elias Uberhausen really good one, hands up and wet people. 2011-10-18T16:36:03Z