BassDress Blog

Well, it’s been a long and expensive journey, but I have finally secured a copy of DeepChord vs. Octal Industries “Arrival / Departure”. I’ve been searching high and low for any pressing of this record for about ten years. A decade of looking, of searching record shops in mainland Europe and the UK, of hassling dudes on Discogs.com, of fruitlessly searching GEMM every week until they pulled it down (RIP my old friend).

DeepChord vs. Octal Industries “Arrival / Departure”

So after all those years (and all that money) was it worth it? Well, maybe.  The music is beautiful, especially the Octal Industries cut. My copy is absolutely immaculate, both visually and audibly, so I’m very pleased.  But I can’t help but feel I’ve lost more than I’ve gained. I no longer have a white whale that I’m searching for, I no longer have a reason to email random guys on Discogs to see if they’re finally looking to sell. I don’t think anything will replace this, I just can’t see anything being this sought after for such a long time.  It’s not the most expensive record I own, it’s not musically the best nor my favourite, but it is for some reason or another, the most magic.

Octal Industries “Arrival” is a poppin’ repetitive electro techno masterpiece. Deep, rhythmic and just a wonderful five minutes of perfect techno. Octal Industries has never been close to equalling this level of quality again, and I can’t blame him.  Perfect magic, pressed to bright orange PVC.

DeepChord “Departure” is the minimal essence of modern Detroit techno. Pulsing PWM minor chords bounce in amongst a hazy background and locked beat. You know who DeepChord is, this is his best work.
Any disc containing “Arrival” would have been highly sought after, but the fact that it’s backed with another almost master-piece makes it something very special.

Octal Industries “Arrival”

DeepChord “Departure”