World of the Waking State

Arriving a few months after her adventurous yet singular mix CD Fabric 94, Berghain resident Steffi released her third full-length of original material for Ostgut Ton. Much like the Fabric mix, World of the Waking State departs from the deep house and club-ready techno of her previous albums, drifting toward more refracted beat patterns and contemplative melodies. It's most definitely home (or road trip) listening, and easily her most advanced production work. The beats bubble and swirl, coalescing into fast, complex, interconnected patterns, and the melodies are a bit submerged but still rich with emotion. Acid squiggles worm their way into "All Living Things," while "The Meaning of Memory" embeds a fading memory of a progressive house track into its somber electro beats. "Schools of Thought" is a bit more upbeat, and features bright, aquatic melodies reminiscent of Drexciya solo project the Other People Place. While the title track features a ghostly, non-solidified melody vaporously floating throughout a chain of skittering beats, "Kokkie" is a slow, sneaky dancehall mutation with bubbly soundsystem bass. Traversing a wide range of moods and textures, World of the Waking State is a highly introspective work, perfectly suited for late nights spent lost in deep thoughts. ~ Paul Simpson