Pole

Pole: Fading [CD]

Pole: Pole [CD]

Pole: 123 [CD]

'Tempus' is a smart, considered album that works conceptually because Betke is able to reference his past without aping or repeating himself. The early album tracks are more cautious in their approach, helping to reconcile the past and present: opener 'Cenote' for example submerges Betke's sizzling white noise percussion almost completely, hinting at the album's jazz influences without being too forceful. 'Alp' is far more direct; Betke's bass is separated from its '70s dub template and oozed into bizarre jazz/exotica zones alongside clipped electric piano fades and freeform, hollow drum hits. On 'Stechmück' we get the full reveal, as Betke integrates the logic of his genesis, using a malfunctioning Minimoog instead of his namesake fritzed Waldorf 4-Pole filter. The dying, detuned synth tones speak directly to Betke's past, underpinning his fine-ground dub backdrop.