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A label with a firm underground ethos, Bart van Rijn’s STUG label is never lacking in personality, a fact underpinned by an array of quite brilliant releases over the past half-decade or so. At the heart of it all is van Rijn himself, whose shrewd A&Ring and deft productions continue to push the label in the right direction.
A fascinating insight into van Rijn’s advanced production skills, the double A-sided STUG011 kicks off courtesy of ‘Push’. A dexterous track that’s all pads, baselines and clever drum programming, its rising crescendo and many trance-tinges means it’s as likely to appeal to the Afterlife crew as it is Berghain regulars or progressive fans. Played in the right atmosphere, there’s little doubting that this one will prompt elation wherever it’s dropped.
The title track, ‘Flash’, treads a similar path, with this one also characterised by a hypnotic, grinding, catchy beat of the sort that’s never lacking in suspense. A simmering, glistening techno cut that again straddles numerous vibes and genres, ‘Flash’ – much like ‘Push’ before it – showcases the producer at his best. van Rijn’s first solo release since March 2022 has definitely been worth the wait.
Release date: June 7th, 2024.