Anthony Child - of the Beginning
One of the things I love so much about electronic music is the vast range of genres that can emerge within an artist's discography. The use of different synthesis techniques, field recordings, or collaborating with other artists can produce wildly different sonic experimentation. Every artist has their own interpretation of this duality of the self, whether they use several aliases and throw out white labels and remixes you'd never expect, or others release concept albums. Artists may choose to explore a different genre or use limitations to create something unique. With this experimentation, sometimes the output comes out slightly undercooked and maybe a touch directionless, but other times it becomes more introspective, beautiful interpretations that are so far from the standard output that you start tossing up which is better.
Most will know Anthony Child from his acclaimed techno alias Surgeon, but criminally underrated is the body of work released under his own name. Surgeon is an undoubted master of groove and ferocity, not only shaking the Birmingham underground but also changing the way UK techno was perceived. This is all before taking into account he's one of the most prolific and influential underground dance music artists of our generation, and I really don't think that's hyperbolic. However, under Anthony Child, the work is much more mellow. Things move a lot slower, and there's more consideration for classical writing techniques as overtures flow into crescendos, then fade.
2025s of the Beginning sees the return of Child's with what seems to be a spiritual sequel to his Electronic Recordings from Maui Jungle, Vol. 1 & 2, from 2015/16. Those initial two records reflect time spent in the Maui Jungle, and with them come two records that capture a particular sound of nature. Both records have a distinct grit, with Volume 1 showcasing a more kinetic sound through quick-firing plugs and a brutish low end that captured the cyclical qualities of life and the struggles within it. In contrast, Volume 2 feels more blooming, becoming angelic-sounding as Child's introduces wispy pads, breathy atmospheres and climbing melodics while keeping the surgeon-esque edge.
Now, of the Beginning feels as though Child found some sandpaper and smoothed the edges of those two prior outings, instantaneously flinging this into the softness of clouds. Slow-moving atmospheres and dreamy pads become electric in the track 'Waking from the Dream', and as we move further into the album, things take a dreamier turn, becoming more focused and emotional from here on out. With less reliance on physicality, Child's opens himself up to more experimental storytelling.
There is also more exploration of turbulent emotions in Of the Beginning as Anthony Child brings in contrasting sound pallets and pushes his songwriting further. Take, for example, the sharp metallics on 'Outsight', which clash to create a thunderous storm, or on 'Gloaming', where continuous white noise cinematically drenches the melancholic piano. The connection to nature remains, but on 'Are You Being Served?' it's less literal, as melancholic drones intersect with playful, rippling dub chodes. This duality and juxtaposition continue throughout the album. If we take 'Loadstar', it comes across as bright, energetic, and jovial. In fact, beneath the surface, there is still a feeling of uncertainty through chord changes.
There is a sense of confusion that wraps around 'My head feels like an open window' highlighted by A sense of stagnation, punctuated by staccato glitches, but almost emulates a barrage of opposing thoughts. You cannot break free from the underlying tension that applies in your mind, the paralysis of choice. Similar musical devices are used on 'Shipwrecked', where static conveys a sense of cloudy judgment, while hesitation seeps through the track, creating a vivid, cyclical feeling. Anthony has put thought into the emotions, and these progressions evoke them perfectly. While this album is worlds away from Surgeon's pulsating beats, it stands tall as the other side of the coin. It's fascinating how Surgeon is much more about escape, whether that be your day job stresses at home or political prosecution, Anthony Child dives headfirst into these problems.
Label: Old Technology Records (2025)
Anthony Child - of the Beginning
