Hendrik Weber has gradually hauled himself into an enviable position within the electro world, garnering major acclaim for his albums as Pantha du Prince, as well as doing remix work for the likes of Bloc Party, Long Blondes and Animal Collective. His increasingly impressive CV means his third full-length Black Noise is more eagerly anticipated than any of his previous work. This also means he can rope in some indie pals, including Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) who thanks Weber for his brilliant Peacebone rehash by contributing vocals to Stick to My Side. This proves to be one of the weaker moments on the record, but only because Lennox’s usually spot-on vocals only serve as a distraction from the glorious electro work. The rest of the album is a masterclass in the art of mimimal techno, as gently throbbing basslines weave their way through warm ambient textures, and the whole thing is interspersed with percussive industrial noise. This reaches its zenith on A Nomad’s Retreat, which condenses all that is good about Pantha du Prince into just under seven minutes. Black Noise is a real achievement, a darkly captivating slice of brilliance which few will top this year.4.5/5
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