Derrick May’s Transmat label was always a go-to place for quality, unique techno, but so was its sister label, Fragile Records. Carl Craig’s BFC project appeared on Fragile and Retroactive in 1990. Jay Denham released his classic “In Synch” EP on the label in 1990 also. In the subsequent years it has played host to Laurent Garnier’s Choice project and its classic “Acid Eiffel, ” Aril Brihka with the equally classic “Groove La Chord,” Bango, aka Stacey Pullen, with its techno banger “Ritual Beating System” and Steve Rachmad, working under the A Scorpion’s Dream monicker.

Digitial Justice were three young fellas from Manchester and the the main track from this EP, “Theme From: It’s All Gone Pearshaped,” had already been released in their home town in 1994 as part of a six-track mini LP on Rob’s Records, the label belonging the late manager of Joy Division and New Order, Rob Gretton (RIP).  As my review below says, Derrick May was opening his sets in the mid ’90s with “Theme…” and so it was licensed to his Fragile imprint.

Digital Justice
Theme from “It’s All Gone Pearshaped”
Fragile/US/12
Derrick May has been opening up his sets recently with this little ditty and what a good opening track for a boundary pushing, mind elevating techno set. Originally released as part of an EP on Rob’s Records out of Manchester, England, this track and the flipside “Alternative Reality Part 1,  Shapes” are lengthy experiments in ambient techno.

The textures of both tracks are metalllic, swirling, hypnotic and definitely hark back to classic Transmat material while remaining highly unique. This is a serious coup for Manchester based producers, Martin Desai, Martin Duggan and Louis Gordon, to be launched out of obscurity and onto Transmat plastic. This is quality head music, I look forward to more from these gents. Chris Orr