Merv - Recollection
Fulfilling that woody aesthetic shown on the label artwork, Merv’s latest release snaps, crackles, and pops with the warmth of a campfire. Stripped-back dub techno weaves orange embers into every corner of the record. Across both cuts, hi-hats, cymbals, and shakers work with white noise that sits below other percussion.
We get hit with slick rubber basses on ‘inward’ as Merv locks into a steady loop. Classy dub techno with shades of Basic Channel, keeping things locked in, has given Merv a lot of licence to play with the effects. The stabs flow between dubby, repetitive echoes that are rhythmically warm, to atmospheric icy winds that still offer a sense of rich beauty you didn’t think was possible from just a chord stab. Merv capitalises on shimmering effects to evoke a contrasting sense of fluidity. His ability to combine cascading aquatic elements with rubbery aesthetics adds a complexity that tickles the mind and the toes.
Merv uses his B-side to both metaphorically flip styles. It is more subdued and less flashy, but what ‘Suspended’ lacks in thrills, it more than makes up for in mood. Tactile stabs pierce the slow-moving kick and bass pattern like pellets from a buckshot. The echoes recede sporadically, growing and shrinking in intensity, becoming more percussive. Effectively, ‘Suspended is the dark horse of the record. Merv showcases a different side of dub techno, which is deeper and more introspective. A lonely, isolated sound meant to connect with the early morning listener is enhanced by its soft tone, which blends organic clicks with cave-like reverberance.
Tracklist:
Inward
Suspended
Label: Kontakt (2025)
Merv - Recollection
