Collabs 3000 Metalism

[Collabs; 3000]

Rating: 3.5/5

Styles: industrial techno, tech-house
Others: Richie Hawtin, Audion, Jeff Mills, Cristian Vogel


Early in 2005, Sesame Street's Cookie Monster taught us all a valuable lesson. While there are many foods that are anytime foods, cookies and associated treats are strictly sometimes foods... otherwise you'll become the Grimace, or something. Likewise, the unyielding mechanical beats accented by uncouth synths that make up Metalism definitely constitute a sometimes music for me. Collabs 3000 is the chaotic pairing of Frankfurt vinyl junkie Chris Liebing and mild-mannered Rotterdam native Jochem Paap, who more commonly goes by the name Speedy J. Hmm... Germany and the Netherlands working together. I'm not sure if I should be frightened or make a WWII joke (if only I knew what color the terror alert was today, then I'd know what to do for sure). Anyway, both of these guys have been producing for quite some time. J started off in the early '90s on Canadian techno legend Richie Hawtin's own Plus 8 label, while Chris first got the heads turned in 1998 when he founded Fine Audio Recordings and began releasing his own shit — he would go on to win a German dance award over Paul Van Dyk. So there's a good chance these guys know what they're doing in techno terms. Even so, this really isn't my thing when it comes to electronica. That's probably why I think the live version of "Trikco" is the best track here, by far. It's not common for live electronic cuts to include the crowd noise, but it's definitely required here to unmistakably translate the frenzied, head-banging energy at work. Fans of Audion would be advised to at least download that ripping seven minute performance.

1. Lego
2. Modish Ride
3. Triflon
4. Hilt
5. Tunox
6. Acid Trezcore
7. Cream 3
8. Eventide
9. Lava
10. Assault
11. Trikco (Live)