Daniel Avery's debut LP is one of those pure big-room house records that effortlessly survives the living room listening test. Make no mistake, Avery constructed these twelve tracks with a packed club space in mind, and there is no question that the progressive acid stomp of 'Water Jump' or the downright euphoric synth chords from 'All I Need' will provide plenty peak-time highlights for the contemporary superstar DJ's set. However, the stunning attention to detail, the flow from one track to the next and an overall sense of a clear artistic vision make sure that
Drone Logic provides equally as much kicks for the home listener.
Throughout the course of
Drone Logic, Avery compiles both work that could be found on his previous output, and some rather stunning new cuts. As such, the album marks both an end and starting point for the producer, who melded his influences - ranging from classic acid house, Underworld trance and Chem Brothers rave - into one giant stirring pot and came up with something very much indepted to the past whilst still completely his own. The title track reminds of Underworld's classic 'Rez', until it changes midway through to the best Factory Floor track they never released. Following seemlessly is 'These Nights Never End', a downright schizofrenic, supercooled techno drone that's bound to give the kids on acid the nightmare of their lives. The darker tones and motives of the first half of the record do become mellower as the album progresses, though, resulting in a final trio of tracks that lifts the blurred, drugged-out slumber induced in the head by that which came before; especially penultimate track 'New Energy (Live Through It)' does this job remarkably.
In a year chuck-full of fantastic and perhaps even game-changing electronic releases, Avery's debut can surely hold the title of "best dance album". Indeed, no other album this year succeeded equally in aiming so straighforwardly for the clubs, while still rewarding the listener with so much more. And rest assured: he's only getting started.
