This record by James Din A4 moves forward – even though Never Look Back might initially sound like a glance over the shoulder. The project is helmed by Dennis Busch, who made his mark especially in the 2000s with a string of releases under various aliases on his own imprint Esel Records. What emerged was a sound entirely his own: often described as collage-like, sometimes dubbed “techno with weeds” – music that resists clean lines and easy surfaces.
His tracks crackle, creak and squeal like a rusty door – playful and idiosyncratic, but never random. It’s a controlled chaos that speaks its own language. That’s also the essence of Never Look Back: rich in nuance, laced with lovingly placed details. Between charmingly clunky grooves, dented loops and mischievous melodies, a sonic universe unfolds that feels as though the sounds had assembled themselves – as if little machines had been tinkering away in an abandoned factory when no one was watching. And yet, there’s a clarity to it all, a quiet intent behind the form. Busch remains a tinkerer, but one with a sense of humour. You can hear it in the subtle breaks, the bewildered synths, the beats that seem unsure whether they’re meant to dance or stumble.
Never Look Back
